PEACE is not just a holiday-inspired trending hashtag verifiable through social listening. It is a deep human aspiration woven into the fabric of our hopes and dreams. This writer generated comments on social media on his wish list for 2024, and peace emerged as the central theme in most of the responses. This article examines peace through the lens of both collective aspiration and human nature — the ethos and the cosmos — a timely reflection during the Yuletide season.

Peace is a collective aspiration that transcends historical contexts and cultural boundaries, uniting all of us in our vision for a world free from violence and conflict. Throughout history, societies have sought to establish harmony and order, enacting laws, forming agreements and pursuing diplomacy. From the ancient Greek city-states to modern-day peace treaties, humanity's collective yearning for peace is evident in our actions and institutions, as well as in major philosophical and religious traditions that advocate for peace and non-violence as core values. The rise of global movements and organizations like the United Nations reflects the collective human desire for a peaceful world.