Lecture by Richard Koenigsberg, Ph. D. at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University March 10, 2005, 12 Noon CIVILIZATION AND SELF-DESTRUCTION THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WAR AND GENOCIDE Location: Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution George Mason University, Arlington Campus 3330 N. Washington Boulevard, Truland Building, Room 555 Time: March 10 (Thursday), Noon-1:30 PM For further information, call 703-993-1300 _____ We imagine that we know what war is, but do we really? Some say that war is "human nature." But is there a gene that instructs Homo sapiens to build tanks and atom bombs, salute officers, and to march in unison? In this lecture, Dr. Richard A. Koenigsberg, author of Hitler's Ideology: A Study in Psychoanalytic Sociology, will show how societies sacrifice human lives and material wealth in order to demonstrate devotion to a sacred ideal. Koenigsberg's lecture will reveal how war is destruction undertaken in the name of that which we love. Indeed, killing and dying in warfare is the "pledge of allegiance" in its most radical form. Societies require soldiers everywhere to vow "obedience unto death." In waging war, nation-states require that soldiers give over their bodies and souls in the name of defending the sacred ideal. The Holocaust was ultimately another side of this terrible equation, in which Jews, too, were compelled to give over their bodies and souls to the vengeful nation-state. _____ Richard Koenigsberg soon will embark on a campus-wide lecture series on the Psychology of Political Violence. See: <http://www.conflictaslesson.com/why_main.html> http://www.conflictaslesson.com/why_main.html He currently is developing new material and will be happy to share his research and insights with your students in a classroom or seminar setting. If you are teaching on topics such as war, genocide, the Holocaust, Hitler and Nazism, and would like to explore the possibility of a presentation by Dr. Koenigsberg (at no charge), please contact Orion Anderson at 718-393-1104 or <mailto:libraryofsocialscience@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> libraryofsocialscience@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Richard Koenigsberg has authored numerous books and papers on the psychology of war and genocide, Hitler and the Holocaust, and has lectured extensively on these topics. He recently was keynote speaker at HOLOCAUST EDUCATION WEEK, the largest Holocaust event in the world. For a description (and photo) of his presentation, please visit: <http://www.byad.org/holocaustedu04.html> http://www.byad.org/holocaustedu04.html Presently he is Editor of a Special Issue of the journal PEACE REVIEW on "The Psychological Interpretation of War." _____ To read Richard Koenigsberg's paper, DYING FOR ONE'S COUNTRY: The Logic of War and Genocide <http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/online_pubs.htm> PLEASE CLICK HERE or visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/online_pubs.htm> <http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/online_pubs.htm> http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/online_pubs.htm _____ E-mail: <mailto:libraryofsocialscience@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> libraryofsocialscience@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Web: <http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/> http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html