Capital punishment, serial killings, war, terrorism, abortion, honour killings, euthanasia, suicide bombings, war, and genocide: all involve the taking of life. Put most simply, all involve killing other people. However, cultural context heavily influences heavily how people perceive these acts, and most people reading this paragraph will likely disagree on the extent to which these "count" as killing. For such an evolved species, humans can be violent far beyond the point of humanity. Why We Kill examines this violence in its many forms, exploring how culture plays a role in people’s understanding and definition of violent action. From the first chapter, which examines "conventional" homicide, to the final chapter’s bone-chilling account of the Rwandan genocide, this fascinating book makes compelling reading.

本書は、殺人という行為を単なる犯罪としてではなく、文化的背景や倫理観の歪みが生み出す「人間性の深淵」として鋭く解剖しています。死刑からジェノサイドまで、あらゆる奪われる命を横断的に捉える著者の視座は、読者に人間の定義を根本から問い直させる圧倒的な力強さに満ちています。 特筆すべきは、暴力の多面性を描き出すことで、我々が無意識に持つ正義と罪の境界線を激しく揺さぶる点です。進化を遂げたはずの人間が、なぜこれほどまで残酷になれるのか。その心理的・社会的背景を掘り下げる本書の論考は、現代社会の闇を照らす戦慄の記録であり、知的好奇心を極限まで刺激する一冊と言えるでしょう。