Are Humans Naturally Evil?

[SexayMistahBee]

Evil, as in the general definition of evil. The opposite of good.
Is the root of human nature evil?

I mean, think about it.
If there is a toddler, he will go on committing deeds, which we consider selfish/greedy and unacceptable in the society and most others that we live in.

For example, he may resort to violence if he doesn't get what he wants and believe that that is justifiable.

We are where we are as civilized people, because we have been disciplined and taught to be like this.
If we were not, I'm sure that we would be living like barbarians.

So, on to the question.
Are humans naturally evil?
If not everybody, then is the majority of the human race born with a root of evil?

Share your thoughts.

 

[No Scammers!]

Some people are 'evil' due to there upbringing i dont think any newborn is born with a satanic mindset it develops due to the persons experiences throughout life.

 

[SexayMistahBee]

Some people are 'evil' due to there upbringing i dont think any newborn is born with a satanic mindset it develops due to the persons experiences throughout life.

Then how can you explain their actions as a toddler?

 

[Abernathy]

How do you define evil? Animals kill their own young and fight over territory, are they evil, or just ignorant? The choices of right and wrong are really relative to ones own environment. In the past humans have shed the blood of innocent people over religion and it's still happening, but some people do not consider them evil. Perhaps it's compassion for another living thing that defines evil. If so, then sociopaths are evil just because they were born with a deficiency in their brain patterns. In the end, this argument is just semantics, I believe.

 

[symphony888]

No. It really depends on how you got brought in life.

^ Abernathy - Animals are animals. They need to kill other kinds in order to live they need to get a home. Unlike human beings, they can find home and food without killing others.

 

[T V]

I disagree with your entire topic. Look up "feral children"; That's what we'd be like if we were never raised to act like civilized human beings.
People aren't born inherently good or evil, but rather develop those characteristics as a result of their upbringing.

 

[bastz]

If you've ever read the original Frankenstein, you'll notice the Romantic idea that people are born inherently good as a matter of fact. The experiences you have in your early childhood when you're quite innocent will define your life for better or for worse.

 

[SexayMistahBee]

How do you define evil? Animals kill their own young and fight over territory, are they evil, or just ignorant? The choices of right and wrong are really relative to ones own environment. In the past humans have shed the blood of innocent people over religion and it's still happening, but some people do not consider them evil. Perhaps it's compassion for another living thing that defines evil. If so, then sociopaths are evil just because they were born with a deficiency in their brain patterns. In the end, this argument is just semantics, I believe.

If you read the thread at all, you wouldn't be asking this questions at all. I feel no need to answer it

No. It really depends on how you got brought in life.

^ Abernathy - Animals are animals. They need to kill other kinds in order to live they need to get a home. Unlike human beings, they can find home and food without killing others.

Explain the behavior of toddlers.

I disagree with your entire topic. Look up "feral children"; That's what we'd be like if we were never raised to act like civilized human beings.
People aren't born inherently good or evil, but rather develop those characteristics as a result of their upbringing.

Explain the behavior of toddlers.

If you've ever read the original Frankenstein, you'll notice the Romantic idea that people are born inherently good as a matter of fact. The experiences you have in your early childhood when you're quite innocent will define your life for better or for worse.

Then how can you explain the behavior of toddlers?

 

[Trinity19]

Evil, as in the general definition of evil. The opposite of good.
Is the root of human nature evil?

No, to say this would mean that "evil" is an actual bias and not a purely human made, individualized idea.

I mean, think about it.
If there is a toddler, he will go on committing deeds, which we consider selfish/greedy and unacceptable in the society and most others that we live in.

Just as others would go on acting the opposite, I don't see your point? Humans don't just act in one defined pattern, we are as I said earlier individualized, some may be "evil" to a certain degree, others more neutral, and others "good".

For example, he may resort to violence if he doesn't get what he wants and believe that that is justifiable.

Just as some would try to work it out and that as well would be justifiable.

We are where we are as civilized people, because we have been disciplined and taught to be like this.

Not even close, we are how we are because of evolution showing us how certain things didn't really work out as planned. The whole of human history has simply been trial and error and we are still on that path.

We learned that breeding animals for food was a much better option than simply hunting, we learned that working together can make a huge difference than everyone in a village/city/town/etc just looking out for themselves. It has nothing to do with how we were disciplined its how the result best fit our needs. So in essence yes this was a selfish road we took but it was the best one, all we do is take what benefits us the most and incorporate that into our belief system. Its not that its technically "wrong" or "right" to murder, its just that if everyone went around killing everyone they saw then I'm pretty sure not much would get done.

If we were not, I'm sure that we would be living like barbarians.

I don't see that as a possibility because as I said earlier we're a race of trial and error and we can obviously see the benefits to not living like barbarians.

So, on to the question.
Are humans naturally evil?
If not everybody, then is the majority of the human race born with a root of evil?

Share your thoughts.

No because as I stated earlier that would be assuming "evil" was an all encompassing term, which it isn't.
I think you mean to ask "Are humans naturally evil based on how I SexyMistahBee see and standardize evil?"

 

[petnavi]

Good and evil are subjected to morality which is turn is subjected to the person. What I view as good or or evil someone else might have a different take on it. It's all subjective to the person. It's like the saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" It just depends on the person and what they deem it to be.

 

[howcow95]

I think so, yes. The human race finds peace through killing, which seems a bit evil, don't you think?

 

[Billetes]

Babies are born ignorant. There is no set definition of good and evil.

 

[symphony888]

I think so, yes. The human race finds peace through killing, which seems a bit evil, don't you think?

I don't agree with this at all.

 

[Lollidoll]

I think evil's a strong word! *laugh* But, you do have a point. It seems that most people are greedy/naughty by nature. Acts of kindness, selflessness, and the like are often things people learn to do as they mature and grow.

 

[aznguy94]

what the hell is this toddler thing you keep bringing up? do you have any sources or citations for this? i'm not too convinced by your unevidenced claims.

toddlers act as a result of their parenting...when toddlers do "evil" things, you must first look at their parents if you want insight on where this evil came from
humans are inherently "good" because being "good" is the best way to ensure survival. only through childrens' years of mental and physical abuse do we end up with people so messed up later on in their lives

 

[T V]

Explain the behavior of toddlers.

Which behavior?? All toddler's do not behave in just one particular way; they follow the examples of those who are raising them...

You keep using "explain the behavior of toddlers" as your only argument, but you neglect the fact that the developement of their characteristics is attributed to how they're raised.

 

[ET Phone Home]

I don't subscribe to the idea that 'evil' and 'good' things exist. As Alexander Pope once enigmatically stated "whatever is, is right."

 

[thatguy1234]

you're born ignorant and you become who you are based on your environment or other things that influence you such as thoughts or ideas or other people. evil spreads throughout other people as does good. if you do something bad to someone chances are they will do something bad also, causing something like a chain reaction.

 

[Garbear]

I think Empiricism is the most laid out explanation of human paths. Nature and nurture also have a key to it, but I'm pretty sure more of the people in the world do not commit mass-murders everyday for a piece of bread.

 

[Ninjamember]

We are where we are as civilized people, because we have been disciplined and taught to be like this.
If we were not, I'm sure that we would be living like barbarians.

My key arguement is when you said "we have been disciplined and taught to be like this." Well, who disciplined and taught us? Were it not humans also? Why did they influence us that way? Who taught them? And so on!

I can agree that humans might have started out as wild and barbaric due the stereotyped image of the caveman or the old British people as barbarians in history. However, it was the same race that improved. Why and how? Who knows. Naturally, we grew out of our "evil" as you like to say phases.

What do you considered civilized? I myself have the impression that despite the barbarianism you call "Evil" the human race is evil. Not by physical actions like violence or lack of etiquette but rack the emotions that lead to it. I find the 7 deadly sins to be a better example of how humans are evil.

My opinions might be confusing. I will restate them. The human race is evil but not for your reasons of natural environment but rather because of conscience.

"Misanthropy develops when without art one puts complete trust in somebody thinking the man absolutely true and sound and reliable and then a little later discovers him to be bad and unreliable...and when it happens to someone often...he ends up...hating everyone." - Socrates