Hsun Tzu was a Chinese Philospher(310-237 BCE) who believed that humans were naturally prone to evil and that ethical norms had been invented to avoid this.
Do you agree?
2006-12-08 02:53:41 · 15 answers · asked by 11:11 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I think naturally we're neutral and we subsequently become these things from environmental stimuli. But, I think that survival instincts are innate and in our need to survive, some things may be considered evil such as self-centeredness.
2006-12-08 03:09:21 · update #1
All humans are both good.
from the phrase "I'm as innocent as the day I was born"
2006-12-08 02:55:10 · answer #1 · answered by Cuddly Lez 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I don't think humans are naturally evil. Humans are humans and one of the great things about being human is having free will. All we have are the choices we make, and we can choose what we believe is best for us. Overall I think there are many more "good" people in the world than "evil." To quote the movie Love Actually: "Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around." And in regards to your comment about us being taught not to hit, bite or kick each other: We are first and foremost, animals. If you've ever observed any young monkeys or apes playing, they do a lot of rough playing. We do the same, at least until our parents and teachers tell us not to. We're not evil. We're a product of our evolution, upbringing, beliefs and choices.
2016-05-23 06:32:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think humans are naturally good because when we are born, we have no sense of right or wrong. These are things we learn as we get older. Our surroundings, as well as moral values taught at home influence that behavior. I don't believe a person is prone to evil; however I do tend to believe that there is an inherent curiosity of the opposite behavior we've been taught to follow. So at a certain age, discovery becomes more of a challenge to accomplish than to fuel needs from curiosity; thereby inviting so many of the "evils" surrounding each of us. During this time, some choose to avoid what is evil because of the emotions drawn from that sort of behavior while others relish and continue in it. Once you learn the good and evil world, you make a decision to which you will be true.
2006-12-08 03:27:55 · answer #3 · answered by terryoulboub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that depends to each person, for instance the happiness that you feel if you do a good thing or the happiness that feel if you do a bad thing, also depends that you want to believe. I read a beautiful book about this issue that i recommend you to read to, the book is called "The evil and Miss Prym" wrote for Paulo Coelho ; )
You will find your answer for sure!
2006-12-08 03:01:01 · answer #4 · answered by Delosly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they have both good and evil naturally in them. Yes, I agree they are to some extent naturally prone to evil and that ethical norms are necessary, but I also think that if they had no good in them naturally, they would never make ethical rules and follow them.
2006-12-08 02:59:32 · answer #5 · answered by Elly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans just ARE. We have created the ideas of good and evil ourselves. Just depends on what you consider evil.
I would say that we are naturally selfish and self-centered. Maybe that is what some mean by evil.
2006-12-08 03:05:06 · answer #6 · answered by joannaserah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, definitely. The Bible proves that point as well. Someone asked this question last week. I explained that humans are "corruptible" and given to temptation and that we must choose between being good or evil daily. The idiot didn't agree with that and gave it a thumbs down...
**So if you believe we're "neutral", why in the hell are you asking that stupid, yet obvious question??? Human beings ARE NOT neutral...you're in denial of who you REALLY are and what you're capable of.
2006-12-08 02:56:57 · answer #7 · answered by incognitas8 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think they are bad not evil. Evil is a harsh word. Living everyday lifwe may soften ao harden people up
2006-12-08 02:56:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that we are born with the capacity to do both good and evil. God has give us the Torah to keep and help us to always to good deeds instead of bad.
2006-12-08 03:14:15 · answer #9 · answered by Ariel 128 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever teach a child to lie? Or to steal? How does a two year old, take a cookie (knowing she's not supposed to) then HIDE it behind her back, and LIE about it being there? We don't learn to be bad, we learn to be good.
2006-12-08 02:57:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I'll put it like this. You can't have one without the other. Can't have wrong w/o right or night w/o day. It's only natural we are all born into sin.
2006-12-08 03:04:19 · answer #11 · answered by JAMES R 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋