Evolving from Aggression to Common-Sense Empathy

Mar 30, 2025

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking revolutionized research on black holes, but he also frequently warned about the dangers of human aggression—particularly in relation to war, competition, and technological advancements like artificial intelligence. Hawking cautioned that unchecked aggression, when combined with advanced weaponry and environmental destruction, could lead to humanity’s downfall.

As a remedy, Hawking believed that empathy and cooperation were essential to overcoming this destructive tendency. In a 2015 interview at London's Science Museum, Hawking remarked, "The human failing I would most like to correct is aggression... It threatens to destroy us all.” He noted that while aggression had once been a survival advantage, it had now become a significant threat. Hawking advocated for cultivating empathy through education and scientific progress as a way to mitigate these risks.

I believe Hawking’s perspective on modern aggression is both accurate and starkly opposed to what we see in the United States today—where hardened opinions override facts, and deepening socio-political divisions push us toward self-destruction. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Reflecting on Hawking's emphasis on empathy as a counter to aggression, I find myself pondering whether his personal experiences shaped this belief, or are people fundamentally wired differently? While these questions occupy my thoughts, building upon Hawking's emphasis on empathy, it’s imperative to consider how this quality shapes effective leadership in today's world.

New leadership should embody new skill sets—updated abilities that include empathy, compassion, and integrity. Strength today should not be defined by brute force but rather by internal resilience and moral clarity.

A 21st-century leader must possess the capacity to understand a 21st-century world—seeing interconnectedness as a strength, not a weakness. They must recognize that in our diversity, we are stronger. When individuals from different cultures, age groups, and experiences come together, they bring unique perspectives—creativity, courage, and healing. It takes a village to raise a child, and collectively, we are that village.

So, how do we replace aggression with empathy and compassion?

Evolve.

Personal loss, failure, and setbacks have taught me that reflection can make us stronger. They help us appreciate the little things in life, which often turn out to be the big things—health, well-being, love, joy, and peace. Perhaps the first step is acknowledging the pivotal role that both aggression and empathy play in shaping the world we wish to live in.

Can we agree that we can do better than pitting women against women, child against child, and man against man? The culture wars we’re subjected to—often fueled by disinformation and propaganda—are designed to divide us. They manipulate people into believing their fight is about "owning" the opposition when, in reality, their own rights and freedoms are being eroded.

We must learn to reframe much of what we see and hear in the media. Varying our sources of information is crucial to forming a more accurate perspective. It’s fine to desire change, but it cannot come at the expense of erasing history or silencing dissenting voices.

The greatest challenge complicating our lives today is misinformation. In the United States, civil society has been so brutally assaulted by information wars that many struggle to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Try and remember these societal norms: Personality and opinion are not reality. We are not alone. People care. We are an interconnected society. It takes a village—and we are all the village.

I believe everyone deserves a seat at the table to find solutions that uplift humanity, protect our nations, and sustain our living planet.

And finally, let’s reframe our misery into something new—something better: If your home were broken into, would you want the police to side with the criminals? I’m pointing to the importance of rule of law, facts, and the integrity necessary to uphold our social systems that try to maintain equality and fair and due process. Following the words of a charismatic idol can lead to vastly different outcomes than choosing common-sense options grounded in experience, fact, and science—choices that can genuinely guide us back to the future.

Success can be predictable, but failure is where growth happens. In the places we have failed, we must articulate a new vision, through new leadership and investments in public education that help create an empathetic politic. I believe we can because I believe in us.

Radically Relevant

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