ABSTRACT
Chapter 14 investigates two hypotheses concerning the origins of sociopolitical conflict, and it calls for research to investigate both of them. Both hypotheses are derived from the observation that a dynamic homology exists between (1) the endemic structural conflict that sits at the core of the egocentric mind and (2) humanity’s identity-based sociopolitical conflicts. Chapter 14 illustrates these homologies by exploring the dynamics of an American political party, and then it explains and explores the hypotheses that these homologies suggest. The first hypothesis is that identity-based sociopolitical conflicts are replications of, and are thus caused by, the structural conflict between identity and non-self of the egocentric mind. The second hypothesis is that given that the egoless mind does not have an endemic conflict with itself, it might well be a state of mind that neither seeks out nor causes the identity-based conflicts of religious intolerance, racism, racial superiority, genocide and organized warfare. Chapter 14 ends with a discussion of whether or not the terrorist attacks of 9/11 would have occurred in an egoless world.
