are humans naturally good or evil?
- 主题发起人 Ducksrulez
- 开始时间
正在查看此主题的用户
There are lots of factors that determine our behavior. Environment and experience play a large role. As do brain injuries. 
It bears pointing out though, that we are generally predisposed to altruistic tendencies.
Sam Harris' essay on free will is worth a read.
It bears pointing out though, that we are generally predisposed to altruistic tendencies. Sam Harris' essay on free will is worth a read.
Amagic
Baron
It's incredibly hard to say something definitive about the entire human race. I could say that humans have 10 toes and it would take a fraction of a second for someone to prove me wrong. In my opinion, humans are naturally nothing, but molded into what they are by a billion different variables over time.
I believe humans are in great majority good, we have generally good intentions and want to do good things. The problem is with knowing what is the right thing to do. Mother Teresa may be considered as saint even though you may say she used religious beliefs to cause suffering to sick people. She believed that suffering is good for people as it's the way to Heaven, so instead of treating them she packed them in dirty places and let them get closer to God. Hitler believed that killing lesser (sic!) peoples would dramatically increase wellbeing of pure (sic!) human race. Crusaders and Jihad warriors believed that it's better for an infidel to die in pain than live in sin.
Dobrymi chęciami piekło jest wybrukowane.
Dobrymi chęciami piekło jest wybrukowane.
People are 'evil' by nature.
Everything we do, we do because we believe in some way our actions are going to benefit us. Thus, all our actions are based on egoism. According to Aristotle and virtue ethics a 'good' person would not be capable of acting with only egoism as a basis as egoism is not a virtue and 'good' people act based on virtuous characteristics.
Everything we do, we do because we believe in some way our actions are going to benefit us. Thus, all our actions are based on egoism. According to Aristotle and virtue ethics a 'good' person would not be capable of acting with only egoism as a basis as egoism is not a virtue and 'good' people act based on virtuous characteristics.
I tend to believe that people are naturally good just from my own nature, but I know that mental disorders can play a large role in 'evil from birth' or something to that extent. Naturally though, I think people have a tendency to act somewhat altruistically, albeit may be with indirect, subconscious desire of return. For example, those who do good for the sake of God aren't truly being altruistic, as they expect a reward in heaven in the afterlife.
Mage246
Not all monotheistic religions come with the expectation that good deeds are anything but their own reward.
pentagathus
Baron
Do humans naturally like yogurt or cake?
Cookie Eating Huskarl
Marquis
All hail the mighty power of the Aztec Sun god?Regendur 说:
