essays on human nature

HumanNatureandTheMindHumannatureandthemindhavebeenstudiedforages.Ashumans, wetendtothink,feel,andactincertainwaysthatareoftenelucidatedbynatureandevolution.In fieldssuchasPsychology,Philosophy,andScience,humannatureandthemindhavebeen extensivelystudiedtodeveloptheoriesaboutwhyhumansact,think,andfeelthatwaythatwedo.It isbelievedbysomethathumansarebornacertainwaybynature.Therearethreewaysthatpeople tendtobelievehumansareborn:naturallygood,naturallyevil,orneutral.AChinesephilosopher namedMenciusisanexampleofsomeonewhobelievedthathumansarebornnaturallygood. MenciusisbelievedtobethemostimportantfigureinthedevelopmentofConfucianism,rightafter Confuciushimself.MenciuswroteMan'sNatureIsGoodintheyearCirca300BCE.Thisrhetorical piecearguesMencius'sviewsonthenatureofman.Menciusnotonlybelievedthathumanswere bornnaturallygood,butalsothatthey,"withpropertraining,couldbecomeperfect"(Austin78) AChinesescholarnamedHsunTzubelievedalmosttheexactoppositeofMencius.AlthoughHsun TzuwasaConfuciansimilarlytoMencius,hedidnotsharethebeliefthathumansarebornnaturally good.TzuactuallywroteapiecetitledMan'sNatureIsEvilinwhichheexplainshisargument.Tzu believedthathumansneedstructure,andthat"...strictdisciplinecouldmakehumanbeingsgood despitetheirnaturalinclinations"

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HumansNature

HumanNature GoodorBad?

Whetherhumanbeingsareinstinctuallygoodorevilinanelementarynaturalstateisaquestionthat hasbeenbogglingthemindsofeventhegreatestphilosophersThereisaspectrumoftheoriesthat supportbothgoodandevilwithinthehumanrace,eachwithvalidpointsthatexplainstherangeof ourinterests,beingeitherforourselvesorforothers.However,mypersonalstanceisthesensible theoryofAltruismPastexperiencesandobservationsallowmetotakethestance,andsupportthe argumentthathumansarecaringandgenuinelygoodindividualsandhavethewillanddesiretohelp thosearoundthem.PhilosopherssuchasMengzi(4thCenturyBCE)alsoknownasMenciusinthe West,explainsshowmorecontent

Theseongoingdebatescontinueintoliteratureandareforexamplethetwophilosophicalauthors ThomasHobbes(1588–1679)andJosephButler(1692–1752)Onephilosopherfightingforthetruth oftheevilnaturewithinhumans,andtheotherrebuttingforthegood.Hobbes'bookthe"Leviathan" expressesharshoutlinesforthenatureofhumananddescribesthehumanlifeas,"solitary,poor, nasty,brutishandshort."1Heconcludedthathumansareantisocial,andthatcooperationbetween individualsorgroupsisnothingbutself–interest.JosephButlerhowever,wantedtoreestablishhis beliefandpublishedthebook"FifteenSermonsPreachedatRollChapel"Hisgoalwastoprovethat humannatureincludedpositiveelements.Withinhisbook,Butlerstatesthathumanshavevarying characteristicspertainingtotheirnatureandthisencompassesameasureofself–interest.Thisself–interestisanaturalattributethatrootsbacktothehumananimalisticnatureof"survivalofthe fittest."Thisself–interestisalsoahumanqualitythatdoesnotconflictwithbenevolence.Butler arrangedthesehumanattributesintoahierarchywiththetopbeingconscience.Inregardsto conscience,Hobbesmaintainedtheopinionthatactsofkindness

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–H.LMenckens

Fromthemomenttheyareborn,humanshaveanaturallyevilpredisposition.Althoughtheterm 'evil'isdifficulttodefine,therearevariousviewsonmorality.Themostcommonlyreferencedone, MoralObjectivism,holdsthatmoralstandardsareuniversallytranscendent,andthatcertainactsare rightorwrongindependentofhumansubjectivity.Itisbythisunspokenmoralcodethathumanity's actsarejudged.Thereissomedebatewhetherafundamentalhumannatureexists,associaland environmentalinfluencesarepresentfromthemomentsomeoneisbornButifwecandefinehuman nature,itisbeyonddoubt,naturallyevil.TheEnglishphilosopherThomas...showmorecontent... Theatrocityofactscommittedbymankindthroughouthistorydemonstratesthedangerousresults whensocietyisunabletorestrainthenaturalevilpresentinhumanbeings.Thewords'humane',and 'civilized',bothcomefromrootsthatdescribesociety.Theirpositiveconnotationsassociate humankindwithaninherentmoralityButitishardtohavefaithinourracewhenthroughout history;wehavebrutalizedeachotherinsuchbarbaricways.Howcanindependentlythinking, emotionallycompassionatebeingstakepartinmassacreslikethekillingsatColumbineorinthe terroristattacksin2001?TheSeptember11thbombingstookthousandsofinnocentlives,andstruck fearintotheheartsofmillions.Whatshockedtheobservingworldthough,wasnotthenumberof deadItwasthesenselessnessofthecause,therawsavageryoftheattacks,theutterlackof humanity.Itbeggedthequestion:whathappenswhenthemoderatinghandofsocietyfailsto restrainagroupofradicals?Theanswerwassimple.Wesawtheinnateevilpresentineachoneof us,initsundistilled,uncensoredformTheColumbinekillers,EricHarrisandDylanKlebold,were disillusionedbullies–tornawayfromsociety'sexpectationsthroughacombinationofviolence tendenciesandpsychosis.Theirhorrificactswerearesultoftheirinnateevilnaturebreaking throughthewallofsocietalstructure.Golding'scontentionwasthatinmostcases,ruleswereforced

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"Itisasintobelieveevilofothers,butitisseldomamistake."

TheLawofHumanNatureisoftenforgottenaboutbutisaveryimportanttopicbecauseitexplains thewaythatGodgaveusourownabilitytochoosebetweenrightandwrong,inotherwordsinthe senseofwhatpeopleactuallydo,comparedtowhattheyshoulddo.Therearethingsinlifethatwe wanttodoandtherearealsothingsinlifethatwehavetodoorneedtodoandthelawofnaturewill telluswhatweneedtodoSometimesweneedtofollowourinstinctsandsometimeswedonot TheLawtellsuswhatisrightandwrongifwelistentoit.Somewillarguesayingtheydon'tbelieve inarealrightandwrong."ForwhenGentiles,whodonothavethelaw,bynaturedowhatthelaw requires,theyarealawtothemselves,eventhoughtheydonothavethelawTheyshowthatthe workofthelawiswrittenontheirhearts,whiletheirconsciencealsobearswitness,andtheir conflictingthoughtsaccuseorevenexcusethemonthatdaywhen,accordingtomygospel,God judgesthesecretsofmenbyChristJesus."Romans2:14–16.1TheBenson'sBibleCommentary says,"Thatis,whatthelawwastotheJews,theyarebythelightandgraceofGodtothemselves, namely,aruleoflifeAlltheancientGreekcommentators,asWhitbyhasshown,interpretedthis passagenotoftheGentileswhohadbeenconvertedtoChristianity,butofthoseGentileswhohad notbeenfavoredwitharevealedlaw,andthereforewereneitherproselytestoJudaismnor Christianity."2TheLawof

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Ashumanstherearebothsimilaritiesanddifferencesamongthedifferentpeopleandculturesinthe world.Severalaspectsofhumanexperiencethatarecommontoallpeoplearekinship,security,and havetheirownhighlyregardedideasanddreams.Theseareuniversalbecausecommonhuman natureisrootedinallhumansthathavebeenobservedbyanthropologiststhroughoutthecenturies. Severalmajorkindsofdifferencesbetweenpeoplearetheargumentbetweenmodernizationand traditionalism;thedivisionofpowerbetweenclasses,government,andthepeople;andbondswithin thefamilyunit;theperceptionofawoman'srole.Ibelievethedifferencestobemoreimportantthan thesimilaritiesPeopledesiretohaveconnectionswithshowmorecontent

Inbothexamplesindividualsandbusinessesseektoprovidesecurity,inthiscaseeconomically,in ordertogainasenseofcomfort.Thissenseofsecurityisaideathatisuniversallysoughtafterbyall individuals.Peopleuniversallyretainideasthattheyvalueastrue–theywillstrivetodefendthese ideas,whatevertheymaybe.Dr.Crandallsummedthethoughtwellwhenhesaidinhisarticle KnowingHumanMoralknowledgetobetrue,"individualhumanbeingsclaimtoknowparticular understandingsoftheworldtobetrue..."(Crandall308).Thisalsoaplicabletothedocumentary HowtheBeatlesRockedtheKremlinconcerningRussiainthe1960'swhentheBeatles,andother westernmusicwasbanned.Thosewholovedtheprohibitedmusicsecretlyproducedrecords.They thoughtthattheBeatleswereintriguingandstovetoendorseit,evenifitwasdoneillegally.A RussianBeatlesfansolidifiedthisideabysaying,"Youhavesomethinginyourheart;youdon'tlet peopletouchit."AsDr.Crandall'ssays"Humanbeingsaredeeplyinvestedanddeeplyinlovewith theirideas,wewillfighttoothandnailforthem.Ourideasaboutthenatureoftheworldareso deeplyheldandlovethattheyseemabsolutely,unquestionablytrue"(Crandall39)JaredDiamond writes ...Getmorecontent...

FundamentalPrinciplesofHumanNatureTheheatedcontroversyoverhowhumanbeingsdevelop theirbehavior,ideas,reasoningandotherabstracttraitshasbeeninongoingdebateforcenturies.

JohnLocke's"blankslate"theoryofexperienceandsensation,andEdwardWilson'stheoryof evolutionarybiologyandinnategenesarebothvalidandapplytothedevelopmentofhumannature. Itishasbeenproventhroughscientificresearchofthehumangenomeovertime,thatbothsidesof thiscontroversialsubjectarepartiallycorrect(Powell).However,IbelieveWilson'stheoryisthe mostreasonableandlegitimateininfluencingtheoutcomeofone'scharacter.JohnLocke'stheory statesthatthemindbeginsasa"blankslate",andthatshowmorecontent Locke'stheorythatallideasandknowledgeresultdirectlyfromexperienceisquitereasonable, howeverIbelievethatexperienceonlygoessofarindeterminingtheoveralloutcomeofwhoa personisandthewayinwhichtheybehave.Acommonsayingsomeliketosaywhenreferringto thewayapersonactsorbehavesis,"Oh,shegotitfromhermother/father."Iholdthistrueto myself,beingmyownexample,IknowforafactthatIinheritedcertainuniquequalitiesand behavioraltraitsfrommymotherandfather.MyoldersisterandIwereraisedtogetherinthesame environmentfor18years,underthesame/similarcircumstances,anditisquiteobviousthat althoughwesharemanyinterestsandideas,ourpersonalitiesarenearlypolaropposite.Sheiscalm, patient,andextremelyshy,whichisstrikinglysimilartomyfather'spersonality.Iamveryoutgoing, impatient,and(unfortunately)emotional,whichmymotherfindshumorousattimes,seeinghowwe aresosimilarinthewaythatwereasonandreacttothings.Althoughthereisnodocumentedor scientificallyprovenevidencethatthisistrue,Iknowthatitmustbetruetosomeextent,andthat hereditarymusthaveplayedaroleinmycollectionofreasoningandunderstandingForinstance,if geneticsdidnotplayanyroleinthisoutcome,thenhowcouldfraternaltwins,raisedunderthesame environmentandconditions,differatallinbehavior

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InWilliamGolding'sLordoftheFlies,Goldingsimulatesaspectsofrawhumannature.Onepartof thishumannatureisthedivisionbetweengoodandevil,andhowitplaysaroleinthepersonalityof ahuman.Thisaspectofhumannaturedevelopsathemethroughoutthestory.Everyhumanhasa levelofevil.Buttheamountinwhichpeopledisplayitcanbechangedthroughthesocial environmentoneisinApersonmayappeartobe"good"ineveryway,butinsidetherewillalways behate,barbarism,andevil.InLordoftheFlies,thislevelofevilofexposurevariesineach character.Thissenseofevilisinescapableamongtheboysontheisland,anditcannotbeavoidedas shownbySimon'sencounterwiththeLordoftheFliesSimondisplaysverylittleevilincomparison tootherboysontheisland.WhatSimondoesnotunderstandisthatevilcannotbeescapedby exposingonlygoodandpositiveemotion.Simonishavingahallucinationinfrontofthepighead theboysstakedontheground.Thisisalsoreferredtoasthe"lordoftheflies"(143).Thepig'svoice speakstoSimonstating"youknowperfectlywellyou'llonlymeetmedownthere"(143).Whatthis suggestsisthatSimonhasagoodunderstandingofwhatheisfacingalongwiththeboysThe authorisusingthePig'sheadasasymbolofevilandafigureofsavagery.Itisexpressingthatthis imageofeviltheboysportrayisreallyinherentwithinthem.Thelordofthefliesvoicecontinuesto Simonbysaying"don'ttryandescape!"(143).Thelordofthefliesisstatingthattryingtofreefrom thisevilisawasteofeffortforitisinescapable.Simondoesnotunderstandthisbecausehefeels thatbydisplayingonlygoodandpositiveemotionitwillgoawayButthislevelofsavagerythatis inherentineveryonecannotbealteredbythelevelinwhichoneexposesit.The"LordoftheFlies" isaddressingthisbutSimononlywishestodisplaypositivityforhebelievesitwillfreehimfrom hishateSimonistheonlyonewhounderstandsthe"beast"tonotbeaphysicalthreat,but somethingthatisinsideallofthem.ThebeastthatSimonportraysisstrongerwithinother characterslikeJackandRalph,butGolding'swordssuggest

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HumanEssay:TheDefinitionOfHumanNature

Humannatureisgenerallydefinedasthegeneralpsychologicalcharacteristicsandbehavioraltraits thatallhumansshare(Dictionary).Thiswouldimplythatallhumansarebornwithcertainfeelings, thoughtsoractionsthatweallhaveincommon.However,thisdoesnottakeintoaccountthemost importantpartofdeterminingpersonscharacteristicsandbehaviors,theirchildhood.Babiesareborn beingneutralandtheydevelopandgrowintothepersonthattheywillbecomeasanadultHumans arenotbornmorallygoodorevil,itisdeterminedbysocietyanditsinfluenceonthem.Human naturecannotsimplybedefinedbyadictionarybecauseeverypersonhastheirowndefinitionof whatitmeansTome,humannatureiswhattrulymakesushumanWhatthatmeansisthatitis whatsetsusasidefromotherlivingcreaturesandmakesourspeciesunique.Humannatureisour feelings,beliefsandknowledgethatnoothercreatureonearthhas.Wepossesstheknowledgeand understandingtotryandrationalizetheuniverse,religionandemotionslikenoothercreaturedoes.

Otheranimalsarecapableofreproducingandmating,butnootherspecieshaveromantic relationshipsthatarenotstrictlyforsurvivalpurposesMostanimalsmatebecausetheymust reproducetokeeptheirspeciesalivebutforhumans,thereareemotionsinvolvedandthese relationshipsarechosenbasedonhappiness,notsurvival.

Humansalsopossestheabilitytoattempttounderstandandrationalize

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Thisessaywillarguethatitishumannatureforpeople,somemorethanothers,toseethemselvesas moremoralorprosocialthantheirpeers.Numerousarticleswillbegatheredtonotonlysupportbut contradictthisargument.Thesearticleswillbeanalysedandcomparedtoproduceacomplete argument.

TheprincipalobjectiveoftheresearchconductedbyPedregon,C.A.,Farley,R.L.,Davis,A.,Wood, J.M.&Clark,R.D.(2012),wastoinvestigatethebetterthanaverageeffect(BTAE)usinga questionnairetoestablishifpeopleratedthemselvesandtheirfamilymembersaboveaverageon sociallydesirablequalities.Pedregonetal(2012)questionnairecontainedboththeNEOFiveFactor Inventory(NEO–FFI)andtheNonadaptiveandAdaptivePersonality(SNAP).Usingboththese methodstomeasurepersonalitytraitsensuresthattheyobtainaccuratefindingswhichsupporttheir hypothesisandgiveusagoodunderstandingofhowpeopleseethemselvesinrelationtoothers. Pedregonetal(2012)foundthatparticipantsweremorelikelytoratethemselvesashavingsocially desirablecharacteristics,thissupportstheBTAEandalsostrengtheningtheinterpretationthatitis humannaturetoconsideryourselfmoremoralorprosocialthanyourpeers.

Moreover,Pedregonetal(2012)samplesizeconsistsof286undergraduateuniversitystudents whichisarespectablesamplesize,howeverawiderangeofthestudentswerefromMexico,thisisa limitationofthestudyasitcouldbe

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ItwasverycommonthatauthorsduringtheRenaissanceErawouldmostlytalkabouttheirfeelings andabouthumannature.WilliamShakespeareandFrancisPetrarcharebothexamplesofauthors thatarewellknowntotalkabouthumannatureandexpressingtheirfeelingsaboutlove,peopleand nature.Shakespeare'ssonnetscontainanoverallsenseofstoryanddeepfeelingswherethereader canrelateAlotofpeoplelikehispoemssinceitisveryeasytounderstandandrelatetothem However,westilldonotknowiftheywerereallifeeventsornotbecausenobodyknowsenough aboutShakespeare'slifetosaythisisaccurate.Intheotherhand,FrancisPetrarchsonnetsarealso veryeasytorelatesincehetalksalotaboutloveInhisshowmorecontent

Inhissonnetsnotonlyshowshislovesidebutalsohowhestruggledwithself–doubtand insecurities.Oneexampleofthiswouldbe"Allmenmakefaults,andevenIinthis,authorizingthy trespasswithcompare,myselfcorrupting,salvingthyamiss,excusingthysinsmorethanthysins are"(Sonnet35,lines5–8).Ithinksometimesashumanswetendtojudgeandblameothersevenif it'sbeenourfaultInthissonnethetalkshowhisloverbetrayedhimandsomethingIactuallyliked thathesaidandIthinkwe,ashumansshoulddoisthathedecidestoassumeequalguiltdespitethe painthathislovergavehim.AsmostoftheRenaissanceeraauthorstalkaboutlove,thereismany timeswheretheirsonnetsexpressloss,grief,andpainwherewecanalsorelate.Anexamplewould be"andyetIlive,griefanddisdaintome,leftwherethatlightIcherishednevershows,infragile barkonthetempestuousseaHereletmylovingsongcometoaclose,theveinofmyaccustomed artisdry,andthis,mylyre,turnedatlasttotears"(Sonnet292,lines9–14).Petrarchisdealingwith thedeathofsomeonewhomhehaslovedformanyyearsandfeelsuselessandratherbedeaththan sufferandbeinginthisworldsincesheis

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Whatishumannature?Itisverysimple.Humannaturereferstothepatternsofbehaviorthatare typicalofourspeciesorourkind.Humanundergoeschangeasallhumansgrowuptheynature seemstochange;theenvironmentsomeonegrowupineffectsthatpersonsnature.Tofully understandhumannatureDr.MarvinHarristakesusontriptotime,whichmakessensebecauseif webetterunderstandourpastandouroriginwewillbetterunderstandourveryexistenceandour nature.Wewillknowmoreaboutwhowearewherewearefromandsuchotherquestionsthat puzzlethehumanmind.

AsImentionedbeforeourenvironmenthasagreateffectonournature.Forexampleatheory claimedthat,thefirsthumansshowmorecontent

Howeverwedon't,andthatisduetotimegoingbyandthechangingoftheenvironment.

InthebookOurKindDrHarrismentionsthetheoryofevolutionbyCharlesDarwinHewentto greatdetailsaboutourclosestlivingrelativethechimpanzees,andhowtheirsurvivalwasbaseon theywilltofight.Therefore,ourwillingnesstofightwarsandkilleachotherfornonsensereasonsis simplyournature.

Ourbehaviorsthatmaybesaidtobeournatureisalsodependonthecircumstancesweencounterin ourlives.Suchas,itisveryraretofindsomeonewhowasraisedinadangerousareaahsthesame timeofnatureassomeonewhowasraisedinverynicecalmareawherethebiggestcrimeonecould commitislittering

AnotherissueofHumanNaturethatshowsushowchangesintimeleadstochangesinthewaywe actandperformisFamilylife.IwillcomparefamilylifeinearlyAmericatofamilylivetodayin America.TheIndiantribesthatlivedoninthisverycountrywenowcallours,theyhadacustom wheretheywouldgiveawaytheydaughterstomucholdermeniftheyprovidedthefatherofthe husbandlabororlandwhichwascalledbrideswealth.Thatwaywhattheybelieve,whatthey practice,thatwassimplytheynatureofdoingthings.Soreally,humannaturecouldalsobelooked asourwayofdoingeverydaythings,ourpracticesor

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Astimegoesbyonewouldthinktheworldisevolvinginapositivemanner.Withallthenew technologyandnewresources,wewouldassumetobebetterpeoplethanthegenerationbeforeus. Manywouldarguethatwearebetterbecausewearealwayswellinformedbythetabloidsandsocial mediaofwhatishappeningintheworld.Unfortunately,weashumansareevolvinginanegative mannerOurhumannaturesincegenerationsbeforeusshowhowcruelweareInthebook,Maus writtenbyArtSpiegelmanshowsushowmaliciousandinhumanpeoplecantreateachother.The novelilluminatesourunderstandingofhumannatureasbeingevilaswellasdeceivingindividuals, whodonotacttobettertheworldastimegoesonInthecomic,Jewsweresenttoconcentration campsbutbeforetheyleftariotdowntownwasdescribed.Vladeksaid"...EveryoneYelling,"Jews Out!Jewsout!"...eventwopeoplekilled.Thepolicejustwatched!"(Spiegelman37).Thequote showshowpeopleareconstantlybeinginfluencedwhenahigherauthorityfigurehasmorepower thanthem.Inthisinstance,HitlerhadtheauthorityanddidnotwantthebestforJews.Policeareto keepeveryonesafeandcontrolchaosAswecanseeinthequoteabove,theshowmorecontent

Anjaknewsheinvolvedherselfinillegalactionbytranslatingcommunistmessages.Insteadof hidingthemessagesinherhouse,whichsheknewbydoingsoshewouldgetarrested.Shegave themtoherseamstress.Anjasaid"MissStefanska–Please!Hidethispackageforme–don'ttell ANYONEaboutit!"(Spiegelman28).Shedeceivedherseamstressbecauseshetrickedherinto hidingthemessagesandlaterontheseamstresspaidthepriceofAnjaAnjagavetheenvelopefull oftranslatedwordstohertoprotectherself,butthisdoesnotjustifywhatshedid.Spiegelman showsusthatinsteadofacceptingourfaultswetrytoblameothersfor

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Humannatureisthecharacteristics,feelingsandbehavioraltraitsofmankind.Humansareableto expressmanyemotions,suchashappiness,anger,fear,andcuriosity.GeorgeOrwell'snovel,1984 effectivelyillustratesthevarietyofpersonalitytraitsexistingamongthehumanpopulation.Thetext showsOrwell'sviewonhumannature;humansarewillingtogoagainsttheirconscioustotakerisks anddisobeyrulesthatrevealtheindividual'sdisloyaltythroughsexualdesires

Thetextillustrateshumansasself–servingindividuals,whowouldtakerisksanddisobey instructionsforthesakeofpersonalgain.AfterWinstonandJuliaarecaughtbytheThoughtPolice, theyareimprisonedintheMinistryofLove,andhehearsaprisonershout,showmorecontent ThegovernmentofOceaniastronglyrestrainssexualrelationshipsbecauseasuccessfultotalitarian countrycannotaccommodateprivateloyaltiessinceitwilloftentrumployaltytotheparty.Since sexualrelationshipsandfamilyrelationscreateprivateloyalties,thepartymustsomehowcontrol thesesocialacts.Sincethegovernmentsuppressessexualactsinreality,Winstonfulfillshisneeds inhisdreams,forexample,Winstonimagines"Agirlwithdarkhairwascomingtowardsthem acrossthefield.Withwhatseemedasinglemovementshetoreoffherclothesandflungthem disdainfullyaside.Herbodywaswhiteandsmooth,butitarousednodesireinhim,indeedhebarely lookedatit.Whatoverwhelmedhiminthatinstantwasadmirationforthegesturewithwhichshe hadthrownherclothesaside"(Orwell40).Animportantaspectoftheparty'soppressionofits subjectsistheforcedrepressionofsexualappetiteWinstoncannotexpresshissexualdesiresin reality,therefore,Winstonfulfillshissexualneedsintheworldinwhichonlyhecanexperience. ThroughWinston'sdream,heshowssexualdesiresarepartofhumannature.Additionally,Winston unfortunatelydivorceshisformerwifenamedKatharinebecausesheisabsurdlydevotedtothe partyandviewssexasactingagainsther

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Essentially,allphilosophersincludingKantandAristotleapproachedethicsfromaspecific conceptionofhumannature.Whilesomesawthegoodlifeastherealizationoractualizationofthe potentialwepossessbythemerevirtueofbeinghumanbeings,othersthoughtthatmanneedsa formalstandardofmoraljudgmentthatcansteerthemawayfrommoralinclinations.Inthispaper,I willtalkaboutKant'sandAristotle'sviewsonthematterandhowitimpactedtheirrespectiveethical andmoraltheories.

Basedonhisviewsonhumannature,Aristotleclaimsthatmanisnaturallyblindtoissuestouching ofmoralityHearguesthathumanbeingsarebroughttothisworldwithoutanyknowledgethus moralitycannotbeapartofhumannature.

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TheEvilNatureofMan:AnEssayonHumanNature

Peopletodayenjoythemanypleasureslifeprovides,includingentertainmentandtechnology,allthe whilelivinglongerthaneverbefore.Thiswouldnotbepossible,ifitwerenotforagovernmentthat protectsit'scitizensfromdangerandpromotespeace.Humansareevilbynature,andtherefore requiresomeformofpowerinasocietythatwillprotecteachpersonThisevilisdescribedina interviewwithaU.S.soldierwhoafterreturningfromIraq,foundhisevilnaturetocontrolhis emotionstowardMuslims,untilhewasabletojointheirgroup,anbecomeamemberoftheir societyThomasHobbes,anEnglishPhilosopherfromthe17thcentury,wroteabookonthe subjectsofhuman...showmorecontent...

OfcoursewiththisState,theideaofthethirdlawofnaturecomesintoview,withpeopleofthe State"perform[ing]theircovenantsmade"(45),havingeachmanfollowtherulesoftheState,which isabletodetermineforitselfwhatisjustandunjust.Theviolentnatureofmanisthwartedthrough theexistenceoftheState,whicheverymangivesupcertainrightsto,yetgainssecurityandpeace from,allowingthemtolivewithinsteadofwar,thepleasuresofindustry,invention,culture, exploration:allthethingsthatmakelifeworthliving(Hobbes42).Thisisevidencedbyourculture, wheremostmenandwomenareabletogoabouttheirdailylives,enjoyingallthepleasuresinour society,whileourgovernmentprotectseachofitscitizensfromthreats.Theonlythingweas citizenshavetodoinreturnisfollowthelawsofthegovernmentAnotherPhilosopher,JohnLocke, tookaviewthatwasoppositeofHobbes.Inhiswork"OftheStateofNature,"Lockefeelsthat sincehumanswereallequal,lefttotheirowndevices,theywouldbeabletoestablishtheirown formofgovernmentthattheythemselvescouldcontrol(48)Theargumentmadestartsoffinaform similartoHobbesideaoftwomenhavingthesamegoal,yetinLocke's

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NatureAndHumanEssay

MariaMoiseeva

ProfessorAhrens English101 13August2014 IllusoryFreedom

...Ourplanetisalonelyspeckinthegreatenvelopingcosmicdark.Inourobscurity,inallthis vastness,thereisnohintthathelpwillcomefromelsewheretosaveusfromourselves"–Carl Sagan.

Ifthereisonlyonethingthathumanityhastolearn,thatwouldbethesuperiorpowerofcompliance withnaturallaws.Humanspecieshaveneverhadanytruefreedom.Freedomisillusion.Whenit comestotheorderofnature,eitheryoualignoryousuffer.

So,whoarewe,homosapiens,abranchofgreatmonkeys,thesourceofallproblemsontheEarth, thereasonbehinddramaticchangesofenvironment,...showmorecontent...

Whereisthe"secondchance"forthepeopleandotherinhabitantsofthisplanetwhodiedfromthis manmadedisasters?Theseexamplesprovethatthereisnosuchruleofa"secondchance"simply becausenaturedoesn'tprivilegeuswithone.

TherelationshipofhumanstotheEarthisanevolutionaryprocessFirstHomosapiensarethemost obedientenvironmentalistsoftheplanet.Manythousandsofyearsago,oursuper–monkeybrethren begantodiscoverhowtoengagenature.Wewentfrombeingcompletelyatthemercyofthehabitat, gatheringourfoodwithsomehunting,livingandmigratingaroundthenaturalseasonal regeneration,toanagriculturalrevolution,learninghowtocultivatefood,createmoresophisticated toolstoeaselabor.Infact,thisnewawarenessandever–increasingunderstandingtoharnessthe processesofnaturetoouradvantageiswhathasledtothevasttechnologicalinnovationand

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Forcenturiesmanyphilosophers,aswellasmostindividuals,haveponderedonthequestionwhatis goodandwhatisevil.More–sophilosophersofallageshavealsostumbleduponamoreindepth questionwhichisiftheintuitiveknowledgeofman'snatureisgood,orifitisevil.Manyhave claimedtohaveananswertothesepuzzlingquestionsyetmostoftheiranswerswerefoundtobe incompleteandinadequateatalaterdateReligionalsotriedtoprovideasolutionbuttomy understandingonlycausedmoreofanentanglementifanything.Accordingtothecurrentdefinition fromWebster,goodisdefinedasmorallyexcellent;virtuous;righteous;pious;whereasevilis definedasmorallywrongorbad;immoral;wickedOnecouldshowmorecontent Wouldthesepeoplebeconsideredevilandifsohowdidtheybecomethisway?Weretheybornthis wasorwasitsomesortofexternalforcesthatledthemtobecomeevil?WellaccordingtoHsun Tao,anotherChinesephilosopher,humanswerebornofanevilnatureandwithsomesortof guidancefromateachercouldlearntobecomegood.Hebelievedthatwhatisnaturaltohuman beingsisdesireanddesireinevitablyleadstoconflict;sincethisisevilthensoisthenaturethe resultswithin.Yetreferringbacktotheyoungchildandwellexample,whywouldmostpeopledo therightthing?Isitbecausetheyaretaughttobegoodagainisitsomethingthatisdeeper? However,anotherChinesephilosopher,KaoTzu,beleivedthathumannatureisneitherinherently goodnorinherentlyevilbutrathera"blankslate"thatcouldbeconditionedinbothdirections.When anindividualisbornhe/shehasnoideasorpreexistingbehaviorsbutthatthroughlifeexperiences andexternalforces,suchasfamilyandfriends,thatinfluenceoneshumannature.Oraccordingto JohnLocke"themindatbirthisablankwhitesheetofpaperonwhichexperiencewrites."Religion alsoclaimstoprovideasolutionforwhetherhumannatureisinitiallygoodorevilbutthisofcourse variesuponthereligion.AccordingtoCatholicismeveryonewhohasbeenbornistaintedwith originalsinwhichaccordingtothebibleisaninclinationtoevilcaused

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Humannatureislooselydefinedasthewaysofthinking,feeling,andactingthatthattendtocome naturally.Ourhumannatureisamixtureofourownpersonalbeliefsandviewsaswellasthe perceptionsofoursurroundingenvironmentandthesocietyweresidein.Itaffectsthewaywe interpretandpresentknowledgewithoutrealizingit,includingourthoughtsandactions.Since writingisjustacollectionofourthoughtsandthewayinwhichweinterprettheworld,ourhuman natureinevitablyseepsintoourwriting.ThispaperwillarguethattheHesiod'swritings,in particularthecreationstoryofPandorainbothTheogonyandWorksandDays,areheavily influencedbythemisogynisticviewsheldbytheGreekpatriarchalsocietyatthetimeThe influenceofsociety'smisogynisticviewsontheportrayalofcharactersandrolesarefully exemplifiedwhencomparingthecreationstoryofPandoratothatofhermalecounterpartandEve. TheportrayalofPandorainHesiod'sWorksandDaysisfilledwiththephilosophyandviewpoints thatmenheldtowardswomen,greatlyinfluencinghercreation.Manyofthecharacteristics possessedbyPandoramirrortheviewpointsthatmen,andinparticularHesiod,hadtowardswomen Themerecreationofwomen,byZeus,wasanideasetaroundthepunishmentofmanfortheactsof Prometheus:"TosetagainstthefireIshallgivethemanafflictiontowhichtheywillalldelightas theyembracetheirownmisfortune"(W&D57–59). ...Getmorecontent...

DespitegrowingupinaCatholicbasedfamilyandcommunity,Ibelievethenatureofhumanbeings isaselfservingone.Despitethemanycharitable,lovingpeopleinourworld,Itrulyfeelthatif strippedofnecessitiesorifplacedinadifficultpositionthenatureofhumanbeingsistoserve themselves.Humansseeksurvivalandsuchsurvivalispartofournature,anditishowweadaptto challengingsituationsThisisnotafluffy,optimisticviewofhumannature,butitisthemost practicalandrealisticone.Whenfacedwithdifficultcircumstances,peoplelovetothinktheywill helpothersbeforethemselves.Butinstinctsimplymakesthisactiondifficult.Ithinkitgoesagainst ournaturetoputanotherbeforeourselves

Anddespitethewayourhumannatureisrootedineachofus,Idonotbelievethatnatureornurture canbeplacedaboveoneanotherwhenattemptingtodeterminewhyapersonactsacertainway. Humansasawholearebornwithcertaincharacteristicsthatdonothaveanythingtodowiththe waytheywereraisedorthesituationstheyencounteredwhilegrowingup.Manypeoplearesimply bornwithabetterunderstandingofmathorEnglishButinthesameaspect,certaincharacteristics aredrasticallyshapedbyaperson'sexperiencesintheworld.Thewayapersonrespondstoviolence maysimplybealearnedtraitformedovertimeduetoviolenceintheirpast. However,Idonotbelievepredeterminedcharacteristicssuchasthesearefate.

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Humanbeingsarepartoftheanimalkingdom,andthereforepartofnature.Ifthatistrue,then everythingtheycreateordestroyisbydefault"natural".Iagreewiththestatement.

"Onetouchofnaturemakesthewholeworldkin"–WilliamShakespeareTherelationshipbetween humansandnatureisthatweareapartofnature.Asperthestudyofhumanevolution,scientists discoveredawealthofevidencethatshowshowcloselywearerelatedtotheotherprimates.We humansareananimalspecies:primateorder:mammalianclass:vertebratesub–phylumThestudy ofHumangeneticsgaveaproofthatweareconnectedtoeachotherandalsotootherorganisms whicharepartofnature.TheEarthisanaturalthing,withallearthlyinhabitantsoriginatedonearth naturally,thatmeansweashumansarenatural.

Theearthitselfisanastonishingplanetwiththefactthatlifeexistsonitisanamazingachievement. EvolutionisthefactoflifeandthereasonwhyhumanscameintoexistenceEvolutionis responsibleforallformsoflifeonearth.Theentirenaturalworld,includinghumans,plantsand animalsarealldirectlylinkedthroughtheevolutionaryprocess.Overtheperiodoftime,those specieswhowerebestfittosurviveremainedintoexistenceandthosewhowereunfitgotextinct–"survivalofthefittest"derivedfromCharlesDarwinevolutiontheory–Themechanismofnatural selectionSojustlikeotherexistingspecies,humanshavedonesomethingrightinthe ...Getmorecontent...