I was with you until your last point, but it's minor qubnle. I believe that human aggression is a habit, not instinct. The reason being is that humans thrive on learning akilla and making them work. Cooperation is baked into our genes - I've seen living proof of that. The success of humanity is built on cooperation and every act of aggression hinders that success.

Therefore, there is no "primal thirst" for power or advantage. The desire for advantage is learned behavior and habit, nothing more.