is human nature basically good, or basically bad?

[UpsideDownFlag]

Poll question: is human nature basically good, or basically bad?

i used to think it was basically good, but after witnessing four years of destruction and controversy under the Bushies, i'm starting to change my mind.

[Nimrod]

1. Wish I could say differently, but

I love and cherish individuals I meet that fall outside my general opinion. But I can't help but look at Homo Sapiens as evil, dumb, xenophobic, panicky, dirty, dangerous, greedy, selfish, overbreeding animals that could stand some serious culling.

[LiberalVoice]

2. Greed is the foundation of Human Existence.

I may be wrong but in my experiences I have come to the conclusion that Humanities Mantra is "I gotta get mine."

As a whole most people don't give a shit about anyone not directly connected to them.

[aquart]

6. You are both wrong and out of date.

We now have salvation thru altruism.

Also, the biggest baddest most dominant ape ain't the one who gets laid the most. The one who gets laid is the one who brings the lady fruit and a few flowers. Who takes the time to groom her, babysit her kids. Big surprise to the scientists.

The people who survived the concentration camps were the ones who shared and helped each other.

As to basic nature, NY once had a son of a bitch ultra conservative state senator. Burned one daughter's clothes when she married out of her race. Sent state troopers after the other and made sure her husband couldn't get work. A peach of a guy. Until he lost his mind. When his brains went, you couldn't have found a nicer, sweeter, gentler guy. All he had left was his basic nature. He was adorable.

[LiberalVoice]

7. So you believe someone who's brain malfunctions...

shows the true human spirit?

The majority of the world, unless I'm completely mistaken, has never been progressive. The progressive minority has always been fighting for the welfare of man and the right to be equal.

With all due respect, you are wrong, the majority of humanity has never been on the side of making thngs better for everyone. NEVER

[MuseRider]

3. I am beginning to

wonder. I used to think that we were basically good but now I just can't say that.

[Sporadicus]

4. I Got Into an Argument With a Fundie Today on That Very Same Subject

He argued something akin to 'original sin,' while I argued a Darwinistic view that altruism is beneficial to our species, programmed into our genes, but suppressed by greed, cheap-labor conservatism and other societal flaws. I would go so far as to say that, if * had been raised in a working-class family instead of the crime syndicate into which he was born, he may have turned out as a fairly decent guy - probably a very nice village idiot somewhere. The fundie was not amused :evilgrin:

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. Even Catholics believe that humans are essentially good.

Because they were good before original sin. Maybe I'm completely full of crap on this one, but that's how I understand it, from a Judeo-Christian perspective anyway.

[sendero]

5. While I voted "good"..

.... that is really an oversimplification. My real belief is that humans are neither good nor bad, they are simply biological organisms following their biological imperatives.

Folks act like every action people take is the result of deliberate consideration when IMHO most people cannot even adequately explain their beliefs/actions because they are the result of "genetic memory" and not the result of logical conclusions.

Ok, I know you think I'm crazy. That's ok :evilgrin:

[DerekG]

8. Bad, but that does not entail nihilism

As Kurt V. pointed out in a recent essay, Einstein and Twain were two of our greatest humanists--and they didn't have a high opinion of man.

It rests with us to tame man's savageness.

[alphafemale]

10. People in power should NEVER be trusted.

Not Ever.

[OnionPatch]

11. Basically good

and I agree that fundies see things differently. It's that "original sin" thing; Man is basically evil. (Bull. That's the part of fundamentalism I can't take; the idea that evil is lurking everywhere in everyone. Speak for yourself, Weirdos. Get a life.)
Like the above posters said, altruism is what got us as far as we've gotten. The most advanced and intelligent species are almost always social/altruistic. Like every other creature, though, we have the urge to protect/advance ourselves (and offspring) first and foremost, so there is where we have our conflicts with each other.

[kodi]

12. yes

.

[tuvor]

13. You're measuring biological entities

against their own notions of what's good and what's bad.

You can't know.

[Nordic]

14. it's a stupid human thing to need to pick one or the other

when both are true.

If you can't hold the fact that both are true in your head, well ......

:)

Speaking for myself, I'm the nicest damn guy in the world, I'm empathetic, sympathetic, generous and kind.

But in the right situation I'd gladly cut someone's head off or shoot them in the face.

It's silly to judge people. Most people on the earth are simply trying to provide for themselves and their families. That is all. Everything beyond that is a luxury.

In America we see the worst of human nature come out because there are so many rich people who are woefully unevolved as human beings and who therefore use their money in an extremely immature way.

Yet I know plenty of rich people who are wonderful generous people and who couldn't be nicer.

Human nature is too complex to categorize simplistically.

And being judgmental is the easiest way to be miserable.

Think about it. When you're unhappy, why is it? Because you've judged something. "This day sucks". "My life sucks". "this food sucks". "I suck". "My apartment sucks".

If you can drop the judgmentalism, there's nothing keeping you from being happy.

[Trish]

15. What a great read!

I loved reading everyones take on this one.....
Great site, this DU

[donheld]

16. i think they are born good

but life has a way of destroying that

[JSJ]

17. basically good and bad nt

[MsConduct]

18. I believe there are more people

now days who would screw you over if they got the chance. Bad would be my answer.


Peace

[Kenneth ken]

19. amoral

human nature is neither good nor bad. Those are societally induced values, which change from society to society, and time to time, based more on societal values than any sort of natural inducement.

[onebigbadwulf]

20. Selfish

That's good if you're a libertarian
Bad if you're a humanist