Are we all born with the ability to be good people?

Question

Are we all born the same, a blank canvas. Is it experiences in life that makes some people turn bad, or do you think people are born like that??

Answer 1

I believe that people aren't born evil. There is a reason why some end up the way they do.

Look at those who commit crimes for example. In alot of cases, the offender has had a somewhat difficult life. Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way condoning crime.
There was a girl at my primary school who used to lie all the time. She lied about everything. She made fun of people too. Simply she came across as an all round bad person who didn't know when to keep her mouth shut. I thought that she was just like that, it was just the way she had always been. But when you looked beyond the surface, you could see that she suffered from terrible insecurities. It also turned out that she had a bad family life. I was talking to one of the other people I went to that school with recently, and they said that apprantly she's locked onto this "emo" trend and that she's even slitting her wrists. This is where I begin to pity her, she's basacally screaming out for attention if she's going this far.

But then obviously, genetics may play some part. Some people are naturally more agressive than others. Some people are quieter than others. And others quite simply are too lazy to give a s**t. Now these traits might not necessarily have been passed down through genetics, but they may have been.
Mental health sometimes plays a role in why someone does something. Mental health can sometimes be genetic too.

I guess mainly, when it comes to the end of it, the way we were brought up plays a large role in how good or bad we are. And yes, I do mean, family life. Not having both parents there when we're growing can heavily affect some of us. For example some boys are affected by not having their fathers there when they are growing up.

Everyone has their own opinion, this is just mine.

Answer 2

I think most of us are born with the ability to be good people, but there is the odd exception like those who have a mental reason to be extremely violent or something.

As for if we're born the same, no. Some of us will be more predisposed towards different things by genetics, even before we're born. It's mostly our experiences that shape us, but that has a big influence also.

Answer 3

First we are not born the same -there is someting called genes. Second we are not a blank canvas we all have a face, Third experiences dont make us we make them and Fourth Goodness me thats not bad question. There is nothing Bad only Good turned upside down!

Answer 4

I used to think that we were all born a blank canvas, but as I've got older and witnessed the pure evil in some people, like Saddam Hussein, Fred West, Harold Shipman and many many more, I really think that some are born poisoned. I think that most people are good deep down and that life experiences have hardened them to protect them from future negativity and that's why they seem callous and uncaring. I believe in 50% nature and 50% nurture, but for some people whatever happens to them in life there is no hope for them to become good people.

Answer 5

No because mental illness can be genetic so some people can be born ready to be potential psychopaths. But a lot of bad people are that way because they have had a rotton up bringing. I work with offenders and a lot of the tame offenders have never had parents or proper schooling and have been treated like sh*t whereas the serious offenders (I deal with them also) have serious mental disorders - eg murdering, raping , and molesting young children is not something you just do cos you got in with the wrong crowd - these people are born bad.

Answer 6

I think we're all born that blank canvas, then mom, dad, and society take over to some degree. Injury and illness can change personality. If I had the answer to your question, I wouldn't be working on a Saturday.

Answer 7

The nature nurture debate. I think everyone is born blank u can become good or bad. It is ur experiences , situation and the people around u that stimulate what u become. Of course u do have some free will. Many people choose to be bad when they could have become good.

Answer 8

Jean-Jacques Rousseau claimed that all human beings are naturally good, and that it is society that damages them.
Each individual reacts to life experiences in a different way. Those who have a kind nature tend to become even more compassionate, while those who have evil tendencies will react to the blows of life by trying to revenge against society. However, weak people are more prone to be influenced in a negative manner, even if they don't have evil predispositions. On the other hand, if they are lucky enough to encounter the right "spiritual guides", they have the potential and ability to turn into positive people.

Answer 9

Very Few People Are As Nasty As Serial Killers, Cruel People And The People Which Choose Genocide. Very Many People Are Destined To Do Good, Not Evil And Evil Alone.

Answer 10

Notwithstanding any genetic defects I believe we have an infinite capacity for good.

It is life's experiences that change us, the bad mother, the abusive father for example. If a baby or child is emotionally deprived it will seek other ways to gain attention and if there is a deep enough well of anger and bitterness growing inside, that anger will emerge in one form or another.

If added to that there is no learning curve about right or wrong then what you have is a volcano waiting to explode.

There is of course far more to it than that but I think there is enough material there it ignite the touch paper.