Help! How are we humans by nature?

Question

Describe humans by nature!
For example, Humans are good-hearted by nature. Humans are also social by nature. Tell me more! For example, do u think humans are aggressive by nature? what about Superficial by nature? Give me ur opinion!! Thnxs

Answer 1

One of my favorite quotes for this kind of question: "Nature engenders nature, and nature only, in its reproduction and in its life. The rose brings forth more roses, never anything ‘unnatural’ or ‘unrose-like’. The human being creates humanity, but with this difference: what is human can at the same time be either ‘human’ or ‘inhuman’. The results of human action range from creations which fill our hearts and souls with lasting strength and delight, to crimes whose shame no atonement can wipe off the face of the earth."

Ute Bublitz (1998)

Beyond Philosophy
Reconciliation and Rejection
Three Essays on Aristotle and Hegel
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/bublitz.htm

And an other quote to suggest what many humans are losing and falling to despair not knowing this freedom in education because of neglect of the powerfully competent: http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/piaget.html

'Stages of Cognitive Development. Piaget identified four stages in cognitive development:

Sensorimotor stage (Infancy). In this period (which has 6 stages), intelligence is demonstrated through motor activity without the use of symbols. Knowledge of the world is limited (but developing) because its based on physical interactions / experiences. Children acquire object permanence at about 7 months of age (memory). Physical development (mobility) allows the child to begin developing new intellectual abilities. Some symbollic (language) abilities are developed at the end of this stage.

Pre-operational stage (Toddler and Early Childhood). In this period (which has two substages), intelligence is demonstrated through the use of symbols, language use matures, and memory and imagination are developed, but thinking is done in a nonlogical, nonreversable manner. Egocentric thinking predominates

Concrete operational stage (Elementary and early adolescence). In this stage (characterized by 7 types of conservation: number, length, liquid, mass, weight, area, volume), intelligence is demonstrated through logical and systematic manipulation of symbols related to concrete objects. Operational thinking develops (mental actions that are reversible). Egocentric thought diminishes.

Formal operational stage (Adolescence and adulthood). In this stage, intelligence is demonstrated through the logical use of symbols related to abstract concepts. Early in the period there is a return to egocentric thought. Only 35% of high school graduates in industrialized countries obtain formal operations; many people do not think formally during adulthood. '


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

Answer 2

Some human are anti-social by nature (think of Charles Manson and Timothy Mc Veigh and all the rest; pathologically anti-social), as some are aggressive, and you can take humans through just about every behavioral pattern you can think of and someone would fit.

Most of us fill the gray area most of the time; at least outwardly so. Most of the time, anyway.
That's my opinion.

Answer 3

I think we are social by nature, as our humanity is largely shaped by the environment we live in. I don't however believe human nature exists.. people are neither "good" nor "bad", but a product of their environment. Nor are people inherently selfish and greedy. That is a learnt response in a society based on these values, rather than an innate characteristic.

Answer 4

i do believe that people are capable of love and altruism, but i don't think too well of people in terms of human nature. maybe some day i will change my mind, but i think everything a person does has self - interest as part of it, and alot of life has to do with survival of the fittest.

Answer 5

You might get better answers over in the relevant, Social Science category.

Answer 6

I DISAGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH YOUR DESCRIPTION OF HUMAN NATURE. ALL THOSE THINGS YOU ATTRIBUTE TO MANKIND AS HIS NATURE MUST BE TAUGHT EVEN IF ITS JUST BY OBSERVING A ROLE MODEL.

Answer 7

we are constant victims of our own stupidity and seldom learn from it.