...In the following essay I will examine the arguments for and against the idea that there is such a thing as a fixed and essential human nature. This is a debate which goes back to antiquity, to the time of Socrates and to his idea that a person must endeavor to know oneself. Thus founding the first philosophy, which was the study of man and of human nature. Firstly I will examine the argument for a fixed human nature in the form of the theory of argument from design and also determinism. Then I will proceed to examine the argument against a fixed human nature, in the theory of existentialism. Lastly I intend to show the evidence, as to why I conclude that there is no such thing as a fixed human nature, and that the theory of existentialism is the plausible argument. I will examine now, the idea that all humans have a fixed human nature. Plato and Aristotle were the first to concur on metaphysics as the first point of study. They differed to each other in so far as Plato had a dualistic approach and believed in a world outside of the changeable physical world, that we exist in. He thought this world, was just a world of appearances' another world known as the world of ideals or forms. Plato thought the only way we come to know the world of forms was through the intellect. Aristotle however was concerned only with the material world and what he could learn about through his senses. He rejected Plato's idea of an immaterial reality and was concerned only with this world as the...
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...Mencius and others on human nature Mencius is best known as the teacher for knowledge and wisdom he explains the problems how we work on issues. Mencius explains the moral sense that makes human suffering. Mencius explains the good and bad life. We live in a cold world when become more selfish and unhappy suffering, pain. Mencius developed the concept of human nature for example The Confucian way the righteousness out of the righteousness and anyone would have an immediate no reflective out reaction Benevolence. Mencius said all people possess within them moral sense that cannot bear the suffering of others. He explains people do not like to suffer or they want to feel loved. Mencius said everyone possesses four moral senses that possess their four limbs. People who lack a moral sense of right or wrong could not be a person. Some people do not know their wrongs accuse others on their wrongs (http://www.indiana.edu/p374/Mengzi3)....
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...Mary Shelley’s novel portrays human nature in many ways by using the monster’s feelings and writing about his thoughts when he came to life. Human nature by definition is the way humans act and feel and is shared by all humans. The monster is not human but he starts to possess the characteristics of humans by observing others and learning from books. Throughout the story, the monster starts to develop natural characteristics that attribute to human nature such as curiosity, love, and jealousy. At the start of the story, curiosity is what drives Victor to learn about life and the creation of the monster. The monster develops this basic instinct of human nature as well by wanting to know more about his surroundings. He sees the world but wants to understand it because he is driven by his unknowing of what lies ahead. The monster’s curiosity led him to learn how to speak and realize what he truly was. He describes it as “I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me: I tried to dispel them, but only sorrow increased with knowledge” (Shelley 85). By wanting gain knowledge he realizes that once he’s attained it, it’s not what it seems and sometimes it’s better to be left clueless. He still stays and watches the Delacey’s because he is interested in the way they live and sees their love for eachother. Which he starts to wonder about as well. The monster sees how the family shows their love for eachother and realizes he is alone and unwanted because...
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...The Nature of a Human Every person in the world has their own understanding of human nature, which can be defined in a multitude of ways. The way in which it is interpreted depends greatly on the person who is interpreting it. People from different cultures and backgrounds are bound to understand things differently than each other. The main reason people fail to understand others is not that some people act oddly or in a strange way but its because most people aren't aware of their own human nature. Because of our human nature we always make the mistake of trying to fill gaps with the information we have without thinking for a moment whether the information we have is enough or not. By using The Book of Genesis as a reference, I can agree with the idea that humans are sinners by nature. Even though Eve knows that eating the fruit from the forbidden tree is a sin, she cannot help herself and does it anyway. This helps to understand why people sin and act in ways they should not. In my life, there have been many times where I have either witnessed someone sin or committed a sin myself. Usually, when a person commits a sin it seems to be completely irresistible in that moment. Sometimes, we even sin by instinct. It seems that anything that can possibly happen instinctually is natural and a part of human nature. This brings me to the next point that I agree with from The Book of Genesis. This point is that humans always want what they cannot have. This is shown through the...
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...Human Nature Harlow, so out of touch with normal human nature himself, shed so much light on the subject. Being an odd boy infused with drama went into so much detail in explaining our human nature using monkeys, an animal that is not human. Answers born from a paradox. Testing on the monkeys to see what their level of love was held to, as it turns out, not much. They could attach emotionally to just about anything, but the lack of connection with something living limited their social level. Monkeys still needed to be taught within their instincts and they need to be comfortable with living connections. Love is a very difficult subject because it is not concrete. To test something you cannot see you have to come at it from every angle to try and build something you metaphorically can see, so with love comes cruelty. To start with his early conceptions that the monkeys needed something soft to bond with was true but they were not socially acceptable, which is understandable. As a baby, it is common to latch onto something that is there, i.e. a blanket but that blanket cannot raise us. Even with something else providing nutrients, a blanket cannot teach up what is acceptable and how to go about living a daily life. I assumed that would be common sense, but...
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...Arguable the most controversial subject in human history is what truly defines the human species. Through the growth and evolution of the species, humans have displayed destructive behaviours within society that differentiates this genus from all others. Practiced by the unique act of genocide, humans have embraced a love for brutality against opposing social groups and the annihilation of fellow man. The institutions within the species’ society encompass unsurpassable expectations that have resulted in the self-destruction of millions. Humans have collectively destroyed the Earth’s natural resources through over use and depletion, making it impossible for the environment to remain sustainable; therefore, characterizing humans as the uniquely destructive species that they have come to exist as today. Genocide is a form of destruction unique to the human species that has been repeated throughout history as the yearning for power and the love of cruelty surpasses human controversies. “Genocide is often waged by one group against another and not the other way around. It is this unprovoked brutality that stems from human nature that is truly frightening” (Dimijan, 2010). This brutality was noticeably witnessed in World War II Germany during the Holocaust when Nazi leader Adolf Hitler exterminated more than 6 million Jewish men, women and children. The Nazis, who came to power in January 1933, believed that Germans were "racially superior" and that the Jews, deemed "inferior,"...
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...When faced with forewarnings of events too disastrous to comprehend the magnitude of, humans will almost always, out of nature, never act upon warnings immediately, given that there is already a sense that a period of peace in the known and mundane exists. Incapable of always conceiving the possibilities behind every breath, heartbeat and blink, humans are enabled to live life, ignoring the unknown, subconsciously battling to remain in the dark—to remain in what they believe to be harmony. Humans in society begin to develop a false sense of pride and many will go to such lengths to preserve their own sense of dignity that they would maintain their perception of themselves than to confess that, which through the trials of schools and workplaces, are influenced and deemed to be childish and uncharacteristic or too cliché for them as humans of a gender, race or any other group. Humans will never understand the reality of death and love until after they’ve already been forsaken to a life of sorrow. Therefore, it is absolutely never an excuse to ever allow any thought or mindset, no matter how obstructing, incomprehensible and severe to prevent one to, through any means possible, confess their inner and strongest love to another. There is no greater pain than that which where one cannot forgive their soul for letting the other die without ever letting them acknowledging one’s own feelings. That is damnation: though however possible that, that other person understands...
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...Human Nature Human nature is an intangible idea that no one seems to agree of that which it consists, yet many seem to agree that it does exist. Some philosophers will debate that human nature is inherently good while others will deem human nature as inherently evil. Others think that human nature is to seek the greatest good, happiness, or a moral life. So what makes us human? What separates us as a species yet unites us as well? When searching for universals of humans, many physiological aspects of life can be cited. Human mortality is a largely recognized aspect of being a human. However anything with life, whether it is a plant, animal, man or other, is mortal and has a beginning and an end. So while mortality is something that is found in all humans, it is not exclusively a human quality. We need nourishment to grow and live, but again, so do most other things that have life. We are physically similar, meaning that while there are differences among us, we are all the same species; just as any other species is similar to others in their own species. However, I would consider these qualities as nature, not just human nature. Human nature I believe is something that goes beyond our physiological side. Before I present my argument, I must first define human nature. According to the Oxford Dictionary, human nature is the general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans. In...
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...As Bernard Rosenberg once said, “Man is a biodegradable but nonrecyclable animal blessed with opposable thumbs capable of grasping at straws.” (Bernard Rosenberg. p. 96) Human Nature consists of an evolving body and an immaterial mind that has an essence which is the result of a highly complex brain; Both the body and mind die, however, while living, they make their own choices and create their own outcomes because of their immaterial mind; The memory and body are what makes a person who they are and without either of them, the same person does not exist; We make our own choices but without others, we would be unable to define ourselves. The Dualist view of human nature is similar to these ideas. Dualism is the “view that human beings are immaterial minds within material bodies.” (Velasquez. p. 105) The man that ran this show was René Descartes (1596-1650). He claimed that if we can conceive of one thing without the other, than they are not the same thing. He used this notion to state that the self and the body are different. From this, it can be reasoned that there is a soul, which endures. Human nature accepts the idea of an immaterial mind and a material body because of the fact that they can be viewed as separate things. In the words of Descartes, body is: …all that which can be defined by a specific shape: something which can be confined in a certain place, and which can fill a given space in such a way that every other body will be excluded from it; which can be perceived...
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...Enlightened Literature on Human Nature The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, was a movement in which the power of reason was employed to rethink and reform society as a whole as well as various other concepts of human existence. During that time period (about 1650-1800), numerous thinkers such as John Locke, Isaac Newton and Voltaire exercised reason to challenge the basis of their society, which was built on the premise of an Almighty God. Prior to the Enlightenment, the answer to countless questions was only known to God and God alone; however, with the deterioration of this presumption, man was left to discover everything he once believed to be incomprehensible. These noble men questioned religion, science, mathematics and eventually came to question how men should be governed, how money and economics should function and how the human race should operate. The examination of mankind led to many varying philosophies that depicted men as wild, blood-thirsty beasts of passion or sensible, upright creatures, creating juxtaposition. Many forms of writing were directly influenced by the social and philosophical measures this time period contained. Articulated in the literature was man’s questioning of every idea that was once certain, promoting the desire to examine human nature. The influx of knowledge and reason combine with the rebuttal against the idea of an omniscient deity heavily influenced Enlightenment literature. With the invention of the printing press...
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...According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, human nature is defined as “the nature of humans, especially, the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans” (Dictionary). Efforts to identify the exact nature of humankind date back centuries ago, as numerous thinkers and theologians debate the topic. The issue whether human nature is programmed in humans’ brains or if it is a decision based on beliefs, society, and the culture is very arguable. Philosophers throughout history, such as Thomas Hobbes, have offered their viewpoints of human nature, eventually reaching Sigmund Freud and other modern philosophers. However, in A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess writes a story of a dystopian future version of Britain with the story revolving...
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...Mencius and Xunzi on Human Nature Mencius and Xunzi both follow Confucian philosophy yet have a dramatically different understanding of human nature. Additionally, the two philosophers make their arguments in strikingly different literary methods. Mencius believes that the “goodness of human nature is like the downward course of water” (147) in that people are naturally inclined to be good, and he makes this argument through conversations among friends and public figures. In contrast, Xunzi staunchly argues that “Human nature is evil” (179) and through essays claims that human nature’s only “goodness derives from the conscious activity” (179). The two philosophers both use many metaphors to explain their own interpretation of human nature in different ways. By exploring the philosophies of these two great Confucian thinkers, one better understands the multitude of ways human nature can be explained in Confucianism throughout Chinese history. As the “single most influential contributor to a view of human nature in Confucianized East Asia” (116), Mencius’ philosophy is fundamental. Mencius argues that human nature is good, and “ru” teachings furthered natural tendencies. To explain the natural goodness of human nature Mencius shows that “the goodness of human nature is like the downward course of water.” By this he claims, “there is no human being lacking in the tendency to do good, just as there is no water lacking in the tendency to flow downward” (147). Furthermore he...
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...The Fault of Human Nature Throughout history and mankind, human nature has played a major role in the conflict between others, as it creates a deceiving sense of trust, where nothing but pure hatred is present. Furthermore, this can be proven, as there will always be humans who will secretly hate each other for what they cannot be, out of sheer envy. Moreover, if this statement is true, the simple assumption is: who can absolutely be trusted in the reality. As a result, it is prominent that total trust can never be assured, as long as hatred exist throughout humans in this world. Overall, the human nature has greatly contributed to the conflict of countless people, by acting as a source of deception, only fueling those consumed with hatred and jealousy into seeking revenge. According to the English fiction play Othello written by...
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...Mencius' philosophy about human nature improves upon Taoism and Confucianism in that it is more rational in concern with the human's development in relation to it's environment. Taoists believed that humans did not need cultural refinement, adjustment, or molding based on an external environment, but that it was only their pre-existing natural inborn goodness that needed to be tapped into. Confucians (like the Xunzi for example) thought that people were born innately evil. Mencius improved upon both of those by claiming the natural genetic state of humans is good only with the potential of the environment to develop that natural goodness. Mencius' message did not entail that all humans are born good, but that humans are born with certain positive instinctual temperaments that are made good by personal development and molding from interaction with the environment. Within the analogy of the four germ sprouts, Mencius states four potentials that are hardwired into human genes; “From the feeling of commiseration benevolence grows; from the feeling of shame righteousness grows; from the feeling of courtesy ritual grows; from a sense of right and wrong, wisdom grows. People have these four germs, just as they have four limbs”. These views on human behavior point more toward modern psychology/sociology because they accept that innate human states are less significant than their position within the context of an influence from their environment. Mencius responds to Gaozi's...
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...Human nature can be defined by many traits and characteristics. Human nature is also considered to be the feelings and the behavior traits that every individual has. For example, nature can change an individual's way of viewing life. In the stories, “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe , and “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe, various kinds of human traits are shown. Although, human nature can be defined by many traits, it is best defined as fear, it is showed throughout the stories by the way that individuals express their feelings and by their behavior traits. One way in how human nature is best defined as fear, is shown in the story, “ The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne....
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