are human beings evil by nature?

Answer 1

Nature is not evil. While it's true that some people are literally born with psychological disorders, this isn't representative of "human nature." There is no evil "lurking" in us, although some, of course, believe we were all born sinful & depraved. But that's another story. Evil can also be defined as what we, as individuals perceive as "bad."

Answer 2

I think we have the potential to dig deep into our nature and find an evil side. Evil can be triggered by trauma and pain, if the person allows it to be. Some people may only have that evil part of them alive. But for the most part I would say humans have the good part of their nature in the forefront of their being, and the evil part is buried deep beneath layers and layers of good and "grey" areas.

Answer 3

Everyone is evil... There is good so there has to be an opposite, otherwise the whole universe would be unstable and throw itself out of alignment and it would end up destroyed. Perfection doesn't exist, it's only perception that can make anyone or anything perfect. Humans can only truly make something evil or perfect, and even then, it's debatable among anyone that has an opinion.

Answer 4

Apart from those with pathological malice, every human has the capacity for "evil" or "good" because we have awareness, imagination, and choice. Both can be socially defined by religion or community ethos. So to someone outside a particular society or religion, its definitions of good or evil can seem misplaced, or contrary and appalling. Thus the burning of witches in Christian Europe, and the potential death sentence under Islamic Sharia law for apostates, and the sectarian and racial mass murders of the 20thC etc. US experiments in psychology decades ago showed that even well intentioned, intelligent students would torture others if given plausible reasons to do so (and see U.S. policies recently). But the fact that humans universally identify, and distinguish between, what they perceive as "good" and "evil" surely demonstrates that we have a natural, or developing, inclination to ethical judgment and behavior. Our conclusions may be bizarre, confused, and inappropriate. They are often based solely on perceived immediate personal interest, accepting what might be defined as evil, solely because it is customary (we must kill to eat, but is factory farming, the live-stock shipping trade, ecological destruction, competitive international trade that disadvantages "undeveloped societies" etc ethical?) . In fact, high ethics might eventually be based on "enlightened" self-interest - on empathy, and recognition that "what goes around comes around" in an interconnected global society and ecology. It would then be self-enforcing. But meanwhile, in spite of the horrors, our nature, and its unique potential to develop ethical judgment, is clear precisely because of the quandaries. In it lies our only real hope for a better richer life - not only for ourselves, but for all life on Earth. From the personal to the global, it depends on us - and how we use the power our intelligence give us, to comprehend, and to act.

Answer 5

By choice, not nature. Is a cat evil for eating mice? Are they angry or happy when they do it? Instincts become evil in people when they refuse to see the truth of their own existence. Natural instincts can then be used by their leaders to manipulate them into doing bad things.
Denial of our nature is the mental blindness which allows such things to continue.

Answer 6

the two good and evil are artifical and precis issues at as quickly as. that's like asking if human beings are (colloquial term) douche baggage by ability of nature. It can not be spoke back. we are creatures of reason and result. We exist. good and evil have not got a place interior the worldwide by using fact they are no longer even given the possibility to exist. that's, on a deeper, philosophical point, like asking if rocks are good or evil by ability of nature.

Answer 7

Human beings are born with an old sin nature, totally depraved in need of reconciliation. So I'd say not evil, just depraved.

Answer 8

Humans invented the concept of something being "evil".

Answer 9

Absolutely. Human nature is vile, heidonous, and powerthirsty. Withotu any restrictions or constraintes, humans would be like the rats in the experiment that zapped themselves to death for pleasure.

Answer 10

"Evil" doesn't exist, therefore - no.

But "nature" does exist.

Your conception of good and evil is really one of - does it help me and my friends or does it hurt me and my friends. But do you consider or care if your actions hurt someone or something else if it helps you - no, you don't. And that's why you can swat a mosquito with impugnity, even though you snuff out its life.