Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.
Their wordsThe last few decades have been the most peaceful era in human history. For the first time ever, fewer people die today from human violence than from traffic accidents, obesity or even suicide.
Their wordsSince 1967, Israel has prospered despite its many wars, not thanks to them. Its conquered territories are a heavy economic burden and a crippling political liability.
Our reading
Today's main economic assets are knowledge, and knowledge cannot be conquered through war
Mental modelIncentives
Their wordsToday, the main economic assets consist of technical and institutional knowledge — and you cannot conquer knowledge through war.
Their wordsThe atom bomb has turned “victory” in a World War into collective suicide.
Our reading
Nuclear and cyber weapons can destroy countries but cannot build profitable empires
Mental modelIncentives
Their wordsNuclear weapons and cyber warfare, by contrast, are high-damage, low-profit technologies. You could use such tools to destroy entire countries, but not to build profitable empires.
Our reading
Perhaps the best guarantee of peace is that major powers know no recent example of a successful war
Their wordsHence in a world filling up with saber-rattling and bad vibes, perhaps our best guarantee of peace is that major powers aren’t familiar with any recent example of a successful war.
Their wordsThough, even if it is impossible to wage successful wars in the twenty-first century, that does not give us an absolute guarantee for peace. We should never underestimate human stupidity.
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The other pieces are the ones whose claims are worded most like this one's. That measures language, not agreement: they may argue the opposite.