Critical Analysis: Reading Journal on The Roots of War - Essay Example

Critical Analysis: Reading Journal on "The Roots of War" Basic Analysis One of the most famous narratives that talks about both the complexities and the unique dynamics of war is the essay “The Roots of War,” which was written by Barbara Ehrenreich (Ehrenreich 598). This essay actually talks about the possible roots of war—while at the same time critiquing the conventional explanations of the origins and the causes of war (Ehrenreich 598). Some of the main purposes of Ehrenreich in writing this essay is to analyze the different explanation for the roots of war, inform the readers on why the conventional explanation on the roots of war may be insufficient to explain this phenomenon, and persuade her readers to accept the fact that the root of war is war itself—the “epidemicity” of war.

In this essay, Ehrenreich actually argues that war cannot be explained simply by biological factors such as genetics, the innate predisposition to violence and slaughter or to the “pop-female” explanation of testosterone — given that war is too complex and too collective to be explained on such grounds (Ehrenreich 598-599). On the contrary, Ehrenreich argues that the root of war is war itself, wherein the “epidemicity” of war actually creates and molds how societies come into place.

From the main topic of this essay, and as well as how it is presented, it can clearly be seen that the author is directing the essay to social scientists—specifically, to scholars in the social sciences who are studying the sociology of war and societies. From the nature of the essay, being a scholarly one, it is very clear that the author uses formal diction, as can be seen in the following quote: “But those who study war dispassionately, as a recurrent event with no moral content, have observed a current mathematical pattern: that of epidemicity, or the tendency of war to spread in the manner of an infectious disease” (Ehrenreich 599).

Again, with the essay being scholarly in nature, and with the essay focusing on theoretical, analytical arguments using sound, scientific evidences, it can be seen that the narrative is dominantly written in a serious intellectual tone. With regards to rhetorical modes, the author actually used two common modes: exposition (also known as expository writing) and argumentation (also called persuasive writing). While the author tried to explain and analyze the conventional explanations for the roots of war, she also argued on what is the right explanation on the roots of war.

The author organized the essay according to the following outline: I. Introduction; II. The Conventional Explanation on the Roots of War; III. The “Epidemicity of War;” IV. War as the Root of War; and V. War as a Parasite on Human Societies.In Depth Analysis One of the most striking presentations of the essay that the author made was its intellectual appeal to the topic, wherein Ehrenreich actually gave solid analysis on the conventional explanations of war, and one by one debunked it. This approach actually enabled Ehrenreich make a solid case on her main argument: on why war is the root of war.

Ehrenreich actually tried to show how the conventional explanations on the roots of war must be discredited, showing the different studies on how war occurs: in addition, Ehrenreich also presents all of her arguments with solid, in depth research. Overall, I think Ehrenreich was actually able to successfully persuade the audience on her main point, given that the intellectual presentation of her arguments absolutely helped her position to make a solid case, and to establish validity, reliability and credibility on what she presents.

Works CitedEhrenreich, Barbara. “The Roots of War.” The Progressive, April 2003: 598-601. Print.