There seems to be a split between the religions and philosophies where some assert that man is innately good and other that man is innately evil.
How do you support the idea in your own mind?
No religious references please.
2006-07-31 01:24:42 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Humans are better than we would be if we didn't have empathy and compassion, so I suppose the answer is 'innately good', in the sense that those aspects of human nature cause us to impose restraints on our own behaviour which would otherwise be entirely selfish and uncaring.
2006-07-31 01:40:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would say evil for sure. Take away the laws and police that contain society and you'll find out how quickly things will turn bad.
There's a phrase that says "Locks only stop honest people". That is true on one aspect that a thief will find a way to rob something if he wanted it bad enough. But the other side to that phrase is that if you were guaranteed that you wouldn't get caught, more often than not, you would not do the right thing.
2006-07-31 09:45:52 · answer #2 · answered by IL Padrino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man is neither innately good, nor innately evil.
Man is not here for any purpose, and has no particular externally-driven mission.
To be blunt, man is innately pointless.
What is sad is that so many people have no ability to move beyond the innate (or what they believe to be innate) and derive their goals and aspirations for themselves.
2006-07-31 08:42:06 · answer #3 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think man is innately evil and innately good. At birth we are selfish, we are also wonderfully innocent and beautiful, even the ugly ones lol.
It is the path we choose in this life that makes the difference on whether we will end up significantly evil or significantly good.
2006-07-31 08:34:49 · answer #4 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People have a sin nature. Left alone, will children do what is right? No, they have to be trained. Look at man these days... all wanting to get rich before the economy goes bust. But some, I suppose believe this is right?
2006-07-31 08:48:34 · answer #5 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, where to begin?
War. Murder. Rape. Child molesters. Gang wars. Drugs. Drive by shootings. Kids shooting kids in school. Homeless people in a country that claims to be the richest in the world. Children dying of diseases that are easily prevented. Greed. Selfishness. Adultery. Neglected children. Spousal abuse. Old people abused in homes for the aged.
That's only a partial list.
2006-07-31 08:33:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bush family
2006-07-31 08:27:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well? if we descended from apes, and chimpanzees are our closest relations, wouldn't watching their behavior be basis for some of our own? They make war, kill innocent members or their societies, so could not a part of out behavior just be being a mammal?
2006-07-31 08:44:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you find it a lot easier to good or to do bad? For me, it's seems a lot easier and a lot more fun to do something I'm not supposed to than to take time out of my life to help somebody.
2006-07-31 08:33:20 · answer #9 · answered by southfloridamullets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think people think things are evil because they won't put the effort to begin to understand whatever it is. If they think man is evil, then they need to learn how the chemicals in your brain works and how to understand them.
2006-07-31 08:29:34 · answer #10 · answered by Corey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋