<p>Your question is clear. I have not read anything in Buddhism that explicitly states that hate is a survival instinct. This is because Buddhism concerns itself with ending suffering &amp; hate is something that is <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.028.nymo.html" rel="nofollow">not peaceful (SN 35.28)</a>. </p>

<p>That said, from an evolutionary perspective, your idea is compatible with the fundamental Buddhist principle of 'cause &amp; effect' (conditionality) since Buddhism studies 'natural law'.</p>

<p>Buddhism explains hate is an <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.011.than.html" rel="nofollow">underlying tendency (AN 7.11)</a> that exists within the (subconscious) mind/brain <a href="http://www.vipassana.info/064-maha-malunkhyaputta-e1.htm" rel="nofollow">from child birth (MN 64)</a> (even before a child can express hate).</p>

<p>Buddhism states hate is a natural element or <a href="http://www.yellowrobe.com/component/content/article/120-majjhima-nikaya/321-bahudhtuka-sutta-the-many-kinds-of-elements.html" rel="nofollow">dhatu (MN 115)</a>. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>The Buddha said that to really know any object, we must know five
  things about it, namely:</em></p>
  
  <p><em>(1) What are the characteristics or properties of the object?</em> </p>
  
  <p><em>(2) From what does the object arise?</em> </p>
  
  <p><em>(3) What is its assāda, its enticing quality, its appeal, its
  allurement?</em> </p>
  
  <p><em>(4) What is the ādīnava, the hidden danger, the sinister power to harm
  that lies concealed in it?</em></p>
  
  <p><em>(5) What is the nissaraṇa, the trick by means of which we can get the
  better of it?</em> </p>
  
  <p><em><a href="http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bd_students.pdf" rel="nofollow">Question
  45 page 59</a></em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T09:57:02.097Z
2016-06-05T10:24:25.040Z
2016-06-05T10:24:25.040Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I am pretty confident that the act of hating is bad, no matter the situation/problem you are facing.
Now, does hate have any intrinsic purpose? I am thinking that maybe it was useful to hate in some step in the evolutional chain. Probably as an unconscious triggering method to keep us away of danger.</p>

<p>To what extent is this idea compatible with buddhism?</p>

<p>I am sorry if my question is not precise enough.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T17:20:15.027Z
I think hate is in Buddhism seen as a consequence of craving. As soon as you want/like something, there are things you don't like. So the question could be as well 'Does craving have any intrinsic purpose'. The answer to this question in Buddhism would be 'Craving is conditioned by ignorance'.
OidaOudenEidos
<consciousness>
Is hate meant to be useful in any way?
# Is hate meant to be useful in any way?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-05)

I am pretty confident that the act of hating is bad, no matter the situation/problem you are facing.
Now, does hate have any intrinsic purpose? I am thinking that maybe it was useful to hate in some step in the evolutional chain. Probably as an unconscious triggering method to keep us away of danger.

To what extent is this idea compatible with buddhism?

I am sorry if my question is not precise enough.

**Tags:** consciousness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think hate is in Buddhism seen as a consequence of craving. As soon as you want/like something, there are things you don't like. So the question could be as well 'Does craving have any intrinsic purpose'. The answer to this question in Buddhism would be 'Craving is conditioned by ignorance'.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-06-05. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Your question is clear. I have not read anything in Buddhism that explicitly states that hate is a survival instinct. This is because Buddhism concerns itself with ending suffering & hate is something that is [not peaceful (SN 35.28)](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.028.nymo.html).

That said, from an evolutionary perspective, your idea is compatible with the fundamental Buddhist principle of 'cause & effect' (conditionality) since Buddhism studies 'natural law'.

Buddhism explains hate is an [underlying tendency (AN 7.11)](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.011.than.html) that exists within the (subconscious) mind/brain [from child birth (MN 64)](http://www.vipassana.info/064-maha-malunkhyaputta-e1.htm) (even before a child can express hate).

Buddhism states hate is a natural element or [dhatu (MN 115)](http://www.yellowrobe.com/component/content/article/120-majjhima-nikaya/321-bahudhtuka-sutta-the-many-kinds-of-elements.html).

> *The Buddha said that to really know any object, we must know five
> things about it, namely:*
>
> *(1) What are the characteristics or properties of the object?*
>
> *(2) From what does the object arise?*
>
> *(3) What is its assāda, its enticing quality, its appeal, its
> allurement?*
>
> *(4) What is the ādīnava, the hidden danger, the sinister power to harm
> that lies concealed in it?*
>
> *(5) What is the nissaraṇa, the trick by means of which we can get the
> better of it?*
>
> *[Question
> 45 page 59](http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bd_students.pdf)*


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