In William James’s essay “The Moral Equivalent of War”, James argues that even while battle and war are cruel, they nonetheless enforce rules that are needed in their countless soldiers. Such discipline enforced on soldiers during their time in training and so on creates an environment for the betterment of men. He argues that despite the destructive and unsightly nature of war, its positive aspects can be used for constructive purposes. According to him, everyone has some degree of aggression, which was ultimately left for us by our ancestors and in turn an important aspect of human nature that cannot be hidden. Life without combat would be dull and lifeless to him as besides being a tool to enforce discipline, war is truly what gives life its meaning. James also appears to admit, nonetheless, that although war is brutal in many aspects, peace cannot be made without men’s required order and discipline.
This last and final essay titled “Can real men live in a peaceful society?” by Eric MacKnight, explores how beliefs about ”hyper-masculinity” were changed by middle-class values in the late 19th and early 20th century. Back in those days, males were supposed to work normal jobs such as in factories, support their families, and lead a stable, peaceful life rather than mastering life between and while fighting on the front lines. Although this change made some believe society was changing for the better, some felt it took away a sense of excitement and hardness, which made men look for these traits in fitness or sports. Although I believe this notion of how a man should behave did create new negative stereotypes about women and the idea of over-the-top hyper-masculinity with no room for vulnerability, many can argue it also created new means of teaching younger boys and children how to behave with manners that can be practiced throughout lifetimes.