Are conservatives correct that American human nature is selfishness?

Question

Leading to the conclusion that our entire social system must be structured around our innate selfishness?

Or are the "liberals" right that American human nature is to serve the common good and our system should be structured around the general welfare?

Which position does the Constitution support? (Provide excerpts to confirm your position)

Oh, for those who don't know what is meant by "selfishness", the core of the capitalist ethos is self-interest. The ol' "greed is good" and "made America great" meme.

quoting xialou1: {BTW only a liberal could understand this concept....}

Touche! I hadn't thought of that.
;)

For those who think I'm a kid...I pay taxes AND give to charity. I don't mind paying taxes as long as we invest in America rather than Iraq.

Answer 1

They are both correct.

In general, whether it be in our society or any other society, liberalism and conservatism are both fundamental necessities to the evolution, development, integrity, and strength of that society. Liberalism represent where the society is going, conservatism represents where the society has come from. One is necessary for progress and social evolution/change, the other for stability and to gaurantee that the society remain strong and not evolve too quickly.

In our society, both liberals and conservatives are correct. Conservatives are correct in that, in the past and a great deal in the present, human beings are fundamentally selfish (particularly with regard to people outside of their family or ethnic group) and that that selfishness, when harnessed through capitalism, leads to a greater good. In the past, and a great deal in the present, selfishness was precisely what is/was needed for the survival of the society and the success of individuals within the society.

On the otherhand, liberals are correct in that human nature fundamentally is capable of, and indeed will, transcend such selfishness. Moreover, a more compassionate, selfless, and embracing society will ultimately, one day, be vastly superior to selfishness for the well-being, power, and progress of our society. That day is approaching, but slowly. When that day does arrive, the orientation that we consider "liberal" today, within our society, will likely be considered self-evident by the majority, with some conservative periods of resistance, until eventually being embraced by new forms of conservatism, and a new form of liberalism will replace what we today consider liberalism, indicating the new horizon of change. (Indeed, a conservative in our own society might appear to be radically liberal by members of another society. For example, most conservatives in our society believe in and respect equal rights for women, an idea that seems radically liberal in many other present day societies.)

So, human beings in the past, and to a great extent in the present, were/are selfish, and need to be (conservative). Yet to a large extent in the present, and ever more so in the future, will transcend such selfishness, and will need to (liberal).

An example of the liberal/conservative polarity in action is with regard to environmentalism. In the past, and perhaps to some extent in the present, concerns over the environment were not needed for our survival . . . indeed ignoring such concerns were arguably what helped us to get ahead. Yet to a large extent in the present, and a great deal in the future, we must be concerned with such if we intend to survive. Thus, conservatism is there to argue on behalf of what in the past worked, thus "we needn't change, especially too quickly which might hurt the economy"; and liberalism is there to point out the problems that we are facing now and in the future, to encourage change so that we might face this new problem which inevitably we will need to in order to prosper and survive.

Another example, from the past, would be with regard to civil rights. In the past our society had legalized forms of discrimination, and conservatives of the day fought hard to preserve such laws. Liberals, back in those days, fought to move our society into a more compassionate sphere, where human beings transcended such petty ethnic identifications and hierarchies. Today, even conservatives denounce racism and sexism, demonstrating that both liberalism and conservatism evolve over time.

In the end, liberalism always wins, because societies always continue to evolve. It may take 30 years, it may take 1000 years, but social evolution is inevitable assuming the society remains healthy. And to the extent that liberalism represents where a society is going, it is inevitable that it "wins". If you were to take someone from 19th century America and plop them in today's America, it would be a shock to their system just how much more liberal our society today would seem to them than their own society of the past. Yet, conservatism is necessary to ensure that such progress and change not take place too quickly, which could lead to a weakened society if the society is not yet ready for such change.

Though I cannot provide excepts, the US Constitution, in my opinion, supports both. And indeed, the constitution will likely continue to evolve -- slowly, but surely -- with time. There was a time when the constitution essentially legalized slavery, but was amended. The constitution, and the Americn people, are always in some sense in a symbiotic relationship. As society changes, so will the constitution to accomodate such change if necessary.

So, again, are human beings selfish, and have they demonstrated such in the past? Yes. Can human beings transcend such selfishness -- just as we transcended hunting and gathering and living like animals -- and indeed will we eventually need to? Yes.

So both conservatives and liberals are correct on this matter.

Answer 2

What is "American human nature"? The Constitution merely describes our democratic system of government, which gives the People the right to provide for the common good through democratic political institutions.

Answer 3

Yes. ALL human nature is selfish. And competitive.

Don't believe me? You haven't spent enough time on this site.

I moved to this account, because I spent 1/2 the day defending the other account, and it was connected to my business e-mail.

I am currently dealing with a Liberal troll, in 360, who is accusing me of "point-gaming," "false-reporting," and "lying."

If Liberals are not selfish and competitive, please explain the behavior around here.

Answer 4

great Q , yes i agree.
I think we are innately good and corrupted by our environment (i am liberal) also i believe that evolution works towards unity and diversity, meaning we will evolve to this unselfish state,

this meaning that i expect people to be good and if they are not they need help,,, only a damaged person would steal or lie,,,,
and it is the cultures job to heal those damaged by the culture.... the only problem is no one wants to take responsibility for others..... proving that most of us are selfish,,,

oh BTW only a liberal could understand this concept....

Answer 5

that's a load of bullcrap.

liberals love compassion when it's someone ELSE"S money being taken to help the poor.

just wait til you grow up and are no longer under mommy and daddy's help and have to work your tail off to afford your bills and responsibilites. THEN let's see how "compassionate" you'll be when some kid thinks you're selfish for not liking the money you work your butt off for is being confiscated by the government and given to some lazy slob who watches tv, drinks alcohol, and smokes cigarettes all day.

Answer 6

I think you have two kinds of people, there are the greedy repuglicans and there are the giving democrats. I don't think it is human nature, I think repuglicans was the kids that wouldn't share their toys unless there was something in it for them.

Answer 7

Could we have a "credible" source for your assertion that conservatives believe that "American human nature is selfishness?"

Answer 8

Conservatives are correct - they are selfish. A conservative friend once summed up their attitude by telling me: "I admire that you don't vote in your own self interest".

Answer 9

Provide excerpts to confirm your position???

What the hell dude, this isn't an essay midterm! Get over yourself!