Human Nature?

Question

I have to do a paper on whether Human nature is good or bad. Do you know where I can find some information on that so I can do the paper?

Answer 1

Opinions.

Here is my standpoint.

In order for there to be sin if human nature is good, then society must corrupt.

Since if human nature is good in this concept, and must of been good in the beginning, then why would something good, create something bad?

That's how you defeat the idea of good human nature.

Human nature must thus be bad in order for bad society to develop.(however there are some redeeming qualities to human nature, but those are generally considered morals...)

Answer 2

It is my opinion that human nature is neither good nor bad. It is what it is. We generally are re-actionary creatures. We don't often put a lot of thought into what we are doing. We tend to run on auto-pilot (read that - do things subconsciously).

Here is a site I have found quite useful: http://www.human-nature.com/ Here is an interesting article: Tamar Frankel reviews Why we Lie: The evolutionary roots of deception and the unconscious mind by David Livingstone Smith.

The "Why's" of Crime and Criminality by Tony Walsh. This is another good article. This one is good too, Mark Daims reviews Moral, Believing Animals: Human Personhood and Culture by Christian Smith.

Another: Looking for Kindness in Most of the Wrong Places by Craig Palmer.

A stunner: From Helping to Hand Grenades: Setting the Bar for Altruism by L James Climenhage and Dennis Krebs.

All these articles and more can be found on the aforementioned site.

Answer 3

What is considered good or bad depends on the culture and religion one is brought up in. What one group of people consider to be bad, another might consider to be good. Most of these groups believe that what is good is what benefits the larger group, while what is bad is what does not benefit the larger. Human Nature seems to me to be a christian religious concept that explains our need for a god and why we do not live up to the standard of that god and need a savior to pay for our sins. I do not believe that man is inherently evil or good, but are influenced heavily by their family and social upbringing

Answer 4

Hello. The basic biblical thought on human nature is that it is fallen, unregenerate without God in its state outside of salvation and regeneration. The nature of humanity is bent to sin, and so is corrupted and short of God's glory and original intention. I tried to look things up for you, but couldn't find what would help you best. As for as God's word is concerned, look in Romans chapters 3 to 6. Good luck.

Answer 5

You should take the approach of, firstly, defining good and bad. You should be able to get away with making this the bulk of your paper.
From there, defining human nature; then, posting your opinion should be easy.
Surely, if you challenge the reader (whom may or may not be your professor) with a more complicated approach to his/her rather dumb question, you should be guaranteed high marks!

Answer 6

Look into Hobbes (Leviathan and the sovereign) vs. Rousseau(The Social Contract). Hobbes thinks that the nature of man is chaos, that it will always be man vs other man if there is no system of order. Rousseau thinks that men are inherently good and that they should form a treaty between them which they all keep with their word in order to create peace. Good luck!

Answer 7

Use common sense. Human nature is both good and bad. Go from there.

Answer 8

The first thing to realize is that there is no concrete "good" or "bad". Start your paper by listing examples of different cultures that list something as "good" in one, and as "evil" in another.

Rebel or freedom fighter?

Murderer or Servant of God?

Pervert or Naturalist?

"Good" and "Bad" depend on the time, the place, and the people.

Answer 9

Human nature?
define: good
define: bad
Definitions:
bad: morally unsound.
good: morally sound.

Are humans as a general rule (applying to all humans) morally sound or unsound?
Is it a Prerequisite of humanity to be one way or another?

I have given you questions you answer them and form your own opinion.

Answer 10

human nature can change, we're not supposed to fly or be under water but we do that. i think that's what makes us human.