Unit Seven Exploring Human Nature

UnitSevenExploringHumanNatureLead-inquestions:•Doyouthinkhumansaregoodorbadbynature?•Doyouthinkhumannaturecanbechanged?Topic-relatedInformation•Humannaturehasbeenasubjectthatattractstheattentionofscholarsacrossthetimesandcultures.Philosophersfromdifferentgenerationsandethnicbackgroundsareconcernedaboutthequestionssuchas:•Whyhumannatureisthewayitis;•Whetherhumansarebynaturegoodorevil;•Whethermoralityisnaturaltohumans;•Whetherhumansmustbetaught(orcoerced)todowhatisright.Whetherhumanbeingsareintrinsicallygoodorevilinnature(1):•Confucius:•Humanspossessthecapacityforperfection,althoughtheymustconsciouslystrivetorealizeit.Theperfectibilityofhumanityisadominantthemeinhisphilosophy.Whetherhumanbeingsareintrinsicallygoodorevilinnature(2):•Mencius:••Humannatureisgood,andpeoplearenaturallyinclinedtowardvirtue.Unfortunately,thenegativeelementsofsocietytendtocorruptmanypeople,andonlyafewareabletoovercomethem.•Whetherhumanbeingsareintrinsicallygoodorevilinnature(3):•Laozi:Humansatbirtharelikeuncarvedblocksofwood(pu)andastheygetolder,societymoldsandshapesthem.Educationbrutalizespeopleandcreatestheseedsofsocialturmoilandnegativebehavior.Whetherhumanbeingsareintrinsicallygoodorevilinnature(4):•SigmundFreud:•(afamousphilosopherandfounderofpsychoanalyticschoolofpsychology)•Manisbad.Allmenareinnatelyevilandaggressionlieswithinthehumanasapartofhisnature.Whetherhumanbeingsareintrinsicallygoodorevilinnature(5):•TheBible:•Originally,humannaturewasperfectbyvirtueofhavingbeencreatedsobyGod.TheBibleteachesthathumanbeingswerecreated“verygood”byalovingGod(Genesis1:31),butthatgoodnesswasmarredbythesinofAdamandEveand,subsequently,theentirehumanracefellvictimtothesinnature.Theinterpretationofhumannature1:•ThomasHobbes:anEnglishphilosopher•Heidentifiedthreecausesofquarrelinthenatureofman.•Competition(forgain)•Diffidence/distrust(forsafety)•Glory(forreputation)Theinterpretationofhumannature2:•WilliamShakespeare•intheplayHamletshowshumannaturetobe:•greedy,•self-involved•vengefulTheinterpretationofhumannature3:•MarkTwain:•Humannatureembracestwosignificantfactors.•Sociallyacquiredconsciousnessaboutmorality•Thegreedy,instinctivedesireformaterialwealthStartingout:•Behaviorsuniquetohumanbeings:•theneedforself-actualization•thedrivetoexploretheunknown•reasoningandlogicalthought•thedesireforknowledge•beingconsciouslyadaptedtotheenvironment•controllingpersonalemotionsanddesires•beingabletocreateandrenovateStartingout:•Behaviorsuniquetootheranimals:•matinginpublic•preyingonfoodwhenevertheywantto•keepingthesamefoodpreferenceforalifetime•beingsensitivetosignsofnaturaldisasterStartingout:•Behaviorscommontoboth:•theneedtoexistingroups•attractiontotheoppositesex•selfdefenseandpreservation•possessiveness•aggressiveness•thedesireforfoodandwaterandshelter•Animalinstinctisruledbydesires,emotionsandneedsthathavetobefulfilledregardlessofthetimeandplace.•Humannature,whichisalsodrivenbythoseneeds,emotionsanddesires,ismostlycontrolledbybrain,whichisrelatedtologic,morals,backgrounds,religions,etc.Whencontrolisnotpresent,ournatureisbasicallynothingbutanimalinstinct.•Ournatureisdistinctfromtheanimalsandtherestofcreationinthatwecanthinkandfeel.Oneofthechiefdistinctionsbetweenhumanbeingsandtherestofcreationliesinourabilitytoreason.•Thisisauniquegift.Itenablesustoreflectonourownnature.Text:OnHumanNature•Itisadaptedfrom“Whatishumannature?”,achapterinAnEternalCareer,writtenbyFrankandLydiaHammer.Itwaspublishedin1947byDorrancePublishingCompanyinPhiladelphia.InJune2007thebookwasscannedatsacred-texts.com,whichisthelargestfreelyavailablearchiveofonlinebooksaboutreligion,mythology,folkloreandtheesotericontheInternet.TextOrganization•Part1(Para.1):Introduction:Whatishumannature?•Part2(Para.2—9):Body:Characteristicsofhumannature•Part3(Para.10):Conclusion:Humannaturedoesn’tandcannotchange.Difficultsentences(1)•Itisthatindestructiblematrixuponwhichthecharacterisbuilt,andwhoseshapeitmusttakeandkeepthroughoutlife.(Para.1)•性格正是基于这种牢不可破的基质之上的，它必须以这种基质的形式存在，并将它保留终生。ReadingTask:•ScanthroughPara.2—Para.9tofindthe8characteristicsofhumannature.Difficultsentences(2)•Eachmanseeshimselfasunique,andsofarasheisconcernedthehuboftheuniverse,differentfromanyotherindividual.(Para.3)•每个人都把自己看成是独特个体，而且，就他而言，他就是宇宙的中心，有别于其他任何人。Difficultsentences(3)•Humannatureisevertruetoitself,nottosystemsoffaithoreducation.Eachholdstothestructureofthemoldintowhichthesoulwascastatthetimeofitsindividualization.(Para.4)•人性总是忠于它本身，而不受信仰或教育体制左右。一个人的个性和他独特的天性在出生时就已经形成了，而且不会改变。Difficultsentences(4)•Underpressure,orchangeofinterest,theycanpartiallyorwhollydisappearfromviewforconsiderableperiodsoftime;butnothingcanpermanentlymodifythem,nothingcanobliteratethem.(Para.4)Difficultsentences(5)•Theconstancyofhumannatureisproverbial,asnoonebelievethatamancanfundamentallychangehisnature.(Para.5)Difficultsentences(6)•Thereforewhileitisimpossibletochangehumannature,itcanbestudied,controlledanddirected,andthisshouldbethesupremefunctionofourreligious,educationalandsocialinstitutions.(Para.6)Difficultsentences(7)•Thespiritisperfect,butwhe