Why is it that the majority of people 'SEEM' to believe that ‘human nature is inherently “evil”’

Answer 1

I believe it was Sophocles who posited: that we are all born not understanding the concept of "evil" or "good". These are learned from those who are our teachers: parents, peers, society, religion, etc.

Human beings aren't inherently anything. We just ARE in the beginning. And then we are corrupted. (Learning about "good" is corruption too -- corruption from a pure state of being.)

I don't think the majority of people believe that human nature is inherently evil. Many may, but I doubt that most do.

Answer 2

Human nature is not inherently evil. It is, however, inherently self-serving.

Maybe the majority of people SEEM to believe that because they feel that THEY are inherently evil?

Or maybe it is just what they surround themselves with? Turn on the news, read the newspaper, and what do you see? Murders, political scandals, terrorists, etc. Then you get in your car and sit in traffic where people are discourteous to say the LEAST. Work is becoming less about relationships, more about the bottom line and turning a profit.

Maybe people seem to believe this because it is seemingly true?

Answer 3

I don't think this is a question that can be directly answered (except to say that people are given reason for pessimism by the endless parade of bad news the media feeds us), so I'll point you to some texts that have given me perspective on it.

The "inherent nature" of human beings has, and will likely continue to be, a subject of debate. I would point you to the works of (arguably) the two most important Confucian philosophers of antiquity, Xunzi and Mencius. Xunzi believed that the inherent nature of man was evil, Mencius that it was good. Both men lived well over 2000 years ago, so its obviously a very old debate.

Anyway, I know thats something of a "non-answer," again hopefully it helps in some way.

Answer 4

It all goes back to Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Hobbes and a bunch of other ancient philosophers.

Generally it follows the conception that given a free opportunity, humans will act in a way that will always benefit themselves first. No act is completely self-less.

Humans are not all evil of course, it is just their motivations that can be evil at times. I don't believe all humans are evil myself, but I do believe that most humans will act in selfish ways to protect their own interests at times, and many people would argue this by definition can lead to evil acts.

Answer 5

Because almost every human being from every country from birth is taught religion which instills good and evil. Most governments our built around religion. Laws are also built around religion. This is the way it has been for thousands of years. It will not change there will be good and there wil be evil there will also be people who pose as good who are inherintly evil. Our societies haven't evolved intelectually enough to refrain from using evil to solve problems. Also in the world there will always be people who don't play by the rules and are takers and this is why we have laws to stop the takers.

Answer 6

I think it is because not enough people believe in standing for whats good anymore. Everyone just wants to let someone else clean up the mess so that all we're left with is a darkness with almost no light of hope. I say almost none because i hope the there are still those who can still see a glimmer of hope for the good of humanity as i still do. If there isn't then whats the use of trying to save this world?

Answer 7

"Seem" sounds funny in this situation, doesn't it? Do you think that most people think that, or are you generalizing to fit your thoughts?

Truth be told, we as humans have several things working against us in that department - good and evil. Whether chemical or idealistic they "seem' to sway us in every day life.

Some say it is a product of evolution, an animalistic trigger mechanism to always be on the defensive as if someone else will want what is ours.

Some say it is a taught thought process by raising a race led by organized religions that lead people, from the earliest of age, that we have a predisposition of evil.

I say it is a mixture of both that has led to a very paranoid society, but one that is learning from it's mistakes and making great strides day to day.

Answer 8

Well...Thomas Hobbes would say that humans are only interested in their self-interest. Think of it this way...Hobbes would say that we help people because those people may someday return the favor. Humans do what they can for that individual human to survive, no matter the costs. Look at money. What people do for money and power. These things could be seen as evil, if you believe what 17th (I think) century philosopher hobbes says....or just look at the world right now.

Answer 9

Actually I think inherently "evil" is really "selfishness" in disguise. People will do whatever it takes to protect themselves. This aside, I actually believe people are inherently "good" in that we can sympathize.

Answer 10

I believe it's because it's so much easier to focus on the bad and "evil" things. And because that's about all that's reported by the media. And alot of people seem unable to think for themselves. They let the media think for them.