Panel Discussion
The Evolution of Violence
Why we want peace but go to war. A history of humanity
25 October 2024
19:00-21:00
Max Planck Institute for
Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig
Admission free!
Why war is not our destiny
The unimaginable has happened: war is back - and it threatens us all. Was Europe's long period of peace just a brief interlude? Are we doomed because we cannot change our warlike nature? It is high time to trace the evolutionary roots of violence.
Three best-selling authors - Harald Meller, Kai Michel and Carel van Schaik - embark on a journey to discover the roots of humanity. They present the latest research on chimpanzees and bonobos, explore the archaeology of murder and killing, and show how war has made despots and states great, as well as gods.
Their message: we are not doomed to war, but if we are not careful, we will fall prey to it all too easily.
Panel Guests
As State Archaeologist of Saxony-Anhalt, Harald Meller rescued the Nebra Sky Disk from criminal circles at great personal risk. As Director of the Museum of Prehistory in Halle, he has captivated a wide audience with exhibitions, books and media appearances.
Kai Michel is a historian and literary scholar. His books regularly top the bestseller lists. Together with Harald Meller, he wrote Nebra Sky Disk, Reaching for the Stars and The Shaman's Riddle.
Johannes Krause is a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. His research focuses on the analysis of ancient and very ancient DNA, which he uses to study the pathogens of historical and prehistoric epidemics, as well as research into the genetic history and evolution of humans.
Moderation
Dr. Moritz Schuller
Editor in Chief Non-Fiction
dtv Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
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