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.•Humannatureistotendtowardgoodandright.Thepathtoperfectionbeginswithcultivationoftheheart/mind(xin),aninnatefacultythatallowsustodiscriminatebetweenrightandwrong.Itoperatesinharmonywith“vitalenergy”(qi),auniversalforcethatpervadesallphenomenaandthatpromotesbothpersonalmoralityandsocialharmony.Thosewhocultivatetheirheart/mindthroughstudyandpracticeofmoralityincreasethepoweroftheirvitalenergy,whichbecomesa“flood-likeqi”(haoranzhiqi)insages.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.Whetherhumanbeingsareintrinsicallygoodorevilinnature(6):•Evolutionists:Humannaturewasshapedthroughtheforcesofnaturalselection.Thereasonwhyhumannatureisthewayitis,isthatitwasadaptedtobethatwayinthepast.Likeallfunctionalattributesoforganisms,humannaturewasdeterminedbydifferentreproductionofvaryingentitiesintheancestralenvironment.•Evolutionarypsychologistsseehumannatureasacollectionofpsychologicaladaptationsthatoftenoperatebeneathconsciousthinkingtosolveproblemsofsurvivalandreproductionbypredisposingustothinkorfeelincertainways.Theseeminglyautomaticresponsestomanyordinarystimulithatwecall“humannature”werehard-wiredintoourbrainsbynaturalselectionatwork.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.KeyphrasesinPara.1•(on)thebasisof….•build…upon…•taketheshapeof…•throughoutone’slifeDifficultsentences(1)•Itisthatinde