论人性(On-human-nature)

论人性(OnHumanNature)Philosophershaveinitiatedadebateaboutthehumannaturesincethemankindgottoprobeintoitself.Thetermstateofnatureisusedtorefertothehypotheticalconditionofhumansbeforesocialfactorsareimposed,thusattemptingtodescribethenaturalessenceofhumannature.Mostviewsofitfallinthreetypicalgroups.Viewsinthefirstgroupseehumansasinherentlygood.ThemostfamoustheoryinthisgroupisJohnLocke'ssocialcontracttheory.AccordingtoLocke,humansinthestateofnaturehaveabsolutefreedomtomaketheirordersandtaketheiractions,withouthavingtoaskpermissionfromanyoneelse.Peoplearebornequal,andwillingtotreateachotherastheywouldliketobetreated.Thiswillisknownassympathy,thesourceofjusticeandkindnessandeventuallyallvirtues.InancientChinaawidelyknownphilosopher,themostnotablediscipleofConfucius,Mencius,heldsimilarpoints,declaringthathumansarenaturallymoralbeingsbutarecorruptedbysociety.Thesecondgroupincludesviewsthatseehumansasinherentlybad.Accordingtooriginalsin,humansinthestateofnaturearetarnishedbythesinofAdam.Laterthegrouphadamorerationalspeaker,ThomasHobbes.Hobbesbelievedthathumansinthestateofnaturewouldbehavebadlytowardsoneanother,buthearguedthatpeoplehadeveryrighttodefendthemselvesbywhatevermeans.Famously,hebelievedthatsuchaconditionwouldleadtoawarofeverymanagainsteverymanandmakelifesolitary,poor,nasty,brutish,andshort.SimilartheoriesalsocanbefoundinancientChina.Xuncius,anotherfollowerofConfuciusasMencius,simplyrejectedMencius'claim.InsteadheassertedthatHumanDispositionsareDetestable.Therestviewsthatformthelastgroupstandaneutralpointinthedebate.Theygenerallybelievethathumanbehaviorisdeterminedbybiologicalandsocialfactors,sothereisnoclearboundarybetween“good”and“evil”andnothingistobeblamedbutthegeneaswellastheenvironment.Andofthetwofactorswhichonedecidesmore?Alsoknownas“natureversusnurture”,thisquestioncompelsenormousstudies.Beingaconstantstrangertophilosophy,I’vegotnothingtodobutjustskimoverallofthetheoriesmentionedabove,keepthinkingabouthumannatureinmyownwayassociatedwithfamiliarexamplesinmyownsurroundings,andundoubtedlyendupallthesewithoutexplicitconclusions.BecausewheneverItrytofigureinmymindwhathumannatureislike,Icouldnothelprecallingsomanystoriesaboutit,eachofwhichconflictswithoneanother.Theymessmeupandkeepmefromaclearimageaboutit.ThereforeIhavetoholdamoderateopinionuntilIfindnewkeyevidencetoprovewhetherhumannatureisgoodorevil.Beforethat,Ichoosetobelievethathumannatureisindeedlikeacoinandneithersidecaneasilydominate.