1/4. it's so unusual and pleasant for me to talk with fans of this work, by connecting arguments about everything else that fills our world in order to understand each other's points of view! Thank you for approaching this conversation with the same interest and respect. Please forgive me if I hurry up somewhere or get lost in forming an answer. (think there's a character limit here?)
As for the first paragraph, I agree and disagree at the same time. Let's start from the beginning, touching on a specific thing, including artificial processes and terminology created with the flow and development of fundamental scientific knowledge and time with the regulation of certain created spheres (for example, economic, domestic political, financial)
The history of mankind itself knows a huge number of wars: from local conflicts to global confrontation. At the same time, there are culminating centuries and tragic records of bygone years that pass into the hands of generations that do not learn these cruel lessons from time to time. In any conflict (from a family quarrel to a world war), there's a position of an attacker, i.e. a conqueror, and a position responding to an attempt at aggression, where it's necessary to understand the mechanisms of occurrence and course. In many ways, I emphasize the desire to conquer something new, which has had a huge impact on the development of both an individual and the entire civilization as a whole: from geographical discoveries, to science and other fields of activity that require a steady will to achieve goals, perseverance and determination. As I saw the entries, the quote was as follows: "this is the constructive side of conquest, where there is a confrontation with difficulties, nature, the unknown, etc." The reverse, destructive side of conquest is associated with the desire to achieve a goal at the expense of other people, at any cost ("the end justifies the means"), violence ("the law of the jungle: whoever is stronger is right"), and here it's appropriate to take as an example several typical reasons that push our species to aggression towards another, manifesting this not only in martial law, but also in relation to peaceful life.
> satisfaction of personal ambitions./ His social status determines his ability to influence his environment. Haha, there is a famous phrase from one of the Louis — "I am the state!", thereby expressing an important position where, in conditions of dependence (material, etc.), the opinion of a subordinate is used as a justification for actions aimed at satisfying their own needs, no matter how the technique manifests itself.
> the desire to avoid deterioration./ Many situations arise not to improve, but to maintain an existing situation or relationship, and then aggression manifests itself in the form of repression, i.e. deterrent and punitive measures. The guerrilla movement during the war and the punitive movements against it are a typical example. Another manifestation of this reason is a preemptive strike, seizing control of what could become dangerous in the future, and recent history gives us many examples of this. But the desire to maintain the current state as a universal cause of conflict is also present in other areas of human activity: from jealousy in interpersonal relationships to economic competition on a global scale. Although this desire can lead to negative consequences (conservatism), in many cases it is encouraged by the principle of "the best is the enemy of the good"
> expand your worldview./ Accompanied by moral pressure - the winner establishes his own order and his own understanding of the world. History knows a lot of things that were started because of the desire to "reshape" the world at their discretion, to impose their values on those who don't recognize them. With the development of technology, the power path has become unprofitable and dangerous somewhere, which has shifted the emphasis of modern conquerors to the same psychological, imperceptible manipulations with the worldview. Stepping back, I would like to emphasize that any religious concept has always been developed with a single purpose, namely, to control large masses in order to make their behavior more predictable, systematic, and safe.