Is the human race essentialy good?

Question

On the one hand, it had become incredibly advanced with it technological developments and its cures for disease. On the other hand, it is gruesomely destroying itself in war and other unnecessary brutalities. So which is it: good or bad?

Answer 1

Essentially it is good. I say this because good lasts, bad doesn't. Things always get better, not worse. And since life has been around so long it has to be good. However , there are a lot of bad examples out there. Its just that since there is more good than evil we prevail and prolong.

Answer 2

It's both. Mankind has the potential to be good or bad. It depends on the choice and intent. All technology has the potential to be used for a good or bad purposes. That is why there is war, because someone, one of the bad guys in the world, is doing something for selfish ideals, and since they cannot respond to good, reason, and sincere intent, they can only be stopped by force.

Answer 3

It isn't the human race that's good or bad it's the choices that are made regarding same that are good or bad. Hence going to war is generally never good, but finding a cure for cancer is. Priorities, greed, lack of leadership, and a general disregard for the big picture all contribute to humanities confusion on good or bad.

Answer 4

I truly believe the human race is good. Keep in mind that although we are essentially destroying ourselves with global warming, war and a million other plagues, it isn't intentional. I think if someone could come up with a plan to stop the warming, stop the wars and stop the plagues, most people would jump on the chance.

Answer 5

First off, 'good' and 'bad' are subjective value judgments. They do not have consistent definitions.

Secondly, the human race is not only a mixture of various traits, but each INDIVIDUAL within the race is different. You cannot make a gross generalization about the human species. We are not 'essentially' anything. We are various things at various times.

Answer 6

Due to the selfishness of the human race it can be deemed bad. Everything that humans have done has indirectly or directly been for its own good. Everything from saving Dolphins to technological break throughs.People care for animals so that they don't get extict so that their childrens, children will be able to see them.Everything has been selfish and self serving.

Answer 7

It is a matter of perspective. I do believe that everyone starts out as good. It is our environment and our reaction to the environment that determines how we turn out.
War is only evil on the side that is losing. Listen to the President. This is a holy war to fight the infidel. We are saving ourselves by fighting the people that believe something different than we do. This war is good. (As long as he is not over there fighting and dying.)

Answer 8

Michael M is right in my opinion. How do we know that good and bad were not created by man, and man simple exists. WE choose to label it based on our viewpoint, but who is to say there is a base good and a base evil which are truths?

Answer 9

If the human race were inherently evil, it would have ceased to be some time ago. It is inherently good, and has advanced in spite of evil.

Answer 10

I think man is essentially good. it is circumstances that makes him bad, orientations, influence of negativity and the like. Given proper orientation, man ought to be good, essentially, but it is onl my belief and aspiration, the reality might contradict. How ever, without this belief, it is very difficult to go on in life, and I still believe in the intrinsic goodness of man.