You have given us some provocative insights to ponder here, Ben, but I tend to think that your almost Victorian trope of "nature red of tooth and claw" is a bit oversimplified. Biologist Lynn Margulis has, I think, a more nuanced view of nature: "Symbiosis writes, while competition edits." This is true not only at the level of biological evolution but also at the levels of human innovation, both technological and social. A further range of insights along this line can be glimpsed by the following syllogism:

1. "Strength lies in attack, not in defense." --Adolf Hitler.

2. (However) "Force is followed by loss of strength."--Lao Tzu.

3. (Therefore) "The meek shall inherit the Earth"--Jesus.

All three of these statements are demonstrably true, but in different time frames. Hitler's statement is valid for the street fighter...and for Trump--but it applies only in the short term, as Lao Tzu knew very well, (and as Hitler discovered, to his cost, in 1945, and Putin and Netanyahu are discovering today).

Accordingly, Gandhi and King based their whole successful campaigns of nonviolent noncooperation with evil on the third statement--the insight of Jesus (although the Greek word PRAEIS, mistranslated as "meek" should be more accurately translated as something like patient, gentle, resilient, and benevolent.), The problem is, once norms of "meekness" and civility (which are essential to a functioning democracy) wear thin, --the thuggish wisdom of Hitler and Trump rears its ugly head.. So let us be patient and "meeK" but not cowardly, and wait until force is followed by loss of strength...