Is humanity good in nature?

[15357]

Or is it based on the people's circumstances and situations and the enviroment of life?

I personally think that humanity sucks, for lack of a better word. People do not want to make things better for all, only just for themselves.

For example, look at crime. If humanity were good in nature and progressing towards betterment, crime would go down, not up.


And btw, "The future lies in the hands of the powerful, and power does not come from kindness. Power comes from money and the barrel of a gun."


Anyway, ignore me and post your opinions.

 

[Greatgat]

Nope. Unfortunately. We are all beholden to how we are raised. I LIKE to think we are good, but history doesn't bear that theory out.

 

[JNightshade]

We're blank slates. Genetics plays into it a little, but for the most part, we define ourselves.

At least, that's how I see it.

 

[bvasgm]

edit: I don't think you can classify mankind as either generally good or generally bad. People are born blank slates, their upbringing determines the type of person they become.

 

[Nat Turner]

Obviously depends.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Humanity became apathetic creatures last century and it doesn't seem to be changing.

 

[NotATool]

Nightshade, you should read the Blank Slate by Pinker. He explains that we are far from blank slates.

 

[Ikerous]

I voted yes. I win.

 

[satch919]

Depends on an innumerable amount of variants. It's something that the greatest philosophers and sociologists have pondered but have never came up with a concrete answer. I think most people are good at the most primal level but society tends to alter their perceptions of the world as they age. Some of it might be positive and some might be negative. It all depends on your environment.

 

[Darkside55]

I don't even know if there is something like "good" in nature. All of the vile things that humans do...stealing, raping, murdering, etc., you see that in animals too. We classify not doing those things as being "good" because we can reason that taking something that doesn't belong to us is bad, or that forcing yourself upon someone else isn't right, and that murder takes a life which cannot be given back (although I think certain animals might realize this somewhat as well, but more like "killing would thin out the group so it shouldn't be done"). The sad thing is that humans can rationalize these things but still do them.

Aside from not committing crime, we classify good as helping others, being generous, and not being a complete and total asshat to people. Majority of people just disregard those first two entirely, only wanting to help themselves, or help others when it benefits them. Even some people who do good things might only do them because they expect to feel better about themselves afterward, or perhaps for good publicity or bragging rights ("I donated to such-and-such fund," or "I frequently volunteer at the shelter"). There are good people who don't expect anything in return and really do do things out of compassion, but those people are few and far between.

I don't think people are born blank slates. Some people have genetic predispositions toward things like crime. Some people are born "good." Genetics and upbringing account for most of how a person turns out, but I think there are other factors in it. The person's personality and psyche, I guess.

So for the most part I don't think the majority of humans are good. We have people who embrace their self-centered-ness, people who commit crimes even though they know full-well of its repercussions, and people who curb themselves only because they try to follow the social definition of goodness. Truly good people, like I said, exist but are few and far between.

 

[xcellerate]

I think that sums it up. Look at all the people rushing to help him! (Yea, I realized it's staged, but I believe it's an accurate depiction of normal human reaction in an abnormal situation)

 

[NotATool]

To the person above, if you're trying to prove a point with a staged picture...

I've seen a guy slap his girl on public transportation, and then five unrelated strangers get up to stop him, just for a slap.

 

[Raziaar]

People generally help each other out in a society in situations like that. There are exceptions, like if they fear violence or death against themselves, such as in the situation of a violent crime related thing. That kind of overrides their good nature because they're scared of becoming the victim themselves.

And even then there are exceptions... heroes. Sometimes the heroes die, sometimes they don't.

 

[Fliko]

"It has become appalingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein

"We cannot despair of humanity, since we are ourselves human beings" - Albert Einstein

I look on the actions I, and the people around me do and think "Pathetic.". It bugs me to no end to think my actions are pathetic, but yet I still do them which makes me think "Pathetic." even more. It hurts.

 

[xcellerate]

I've seen a guy slap his girl on public transportation, and then five unrelated strangers get up to stop him, just for a slap.

There's safety in numbers, and mob mentality is something different. How many times have you passed by some girl on the highway with a flat tire? Did you stop to help? Have you ever had a flat tire on the highway? 400 people will drive by in the length of time it takes you to change one, and not one will even ask if you need help. And don't say 'oh everyone knows how to change a flat’, because you know that's a flat out lie.

Plus it totally depends on the guy who slapped the girl, if bruce lee slapped the girl, i'd like to see how many men step up to try and stop him. People will try and help so long as they're safe.

If you saw a flashlight flickering around your next door neighbors house, would you go over and investigate to make sure they're safe? You could call 911, but what if you saw the flashlight go from their 1st floor towards their bedroom, by the time the police got there they could be murdered and their jewelry stolen!

People don't care about other people. Aside from the .023% of the population that does, or at least act like they do, nobody cares. You don't really care what happens to me. If my entire family was brutally slaughtered at spork point this evening i know you would have NO trouble getting to bed tonight. If i had a car wreck and lost my right arm and leg, you would probably forget out it by lunch tomorrow. So if you don't care what happens to me, why should you care about stopping it?

You care about your girlfriend, your family, your dog, your car, your body, etc, yet notice how all those things start with 'your'. In fact i'd bet the stuff you care about is only stuff that affects you. Isn't that how humans really are?


--There's my $0.02 on caring. I'm ready for the flames, whenever you post something of this size with opinions like this there always are. Which is good i suppose, and just remember that you can make up any 'what if' situation to make your own point look good, they're kinda like statistics you can always make them work for you!

edit: after reading over this, i see a lot of places i wish i could expand upon, but the problem with that is nobody reads things longer than two lines That's why i try to use short/brief little cute paragraphs. But hey, No fear.

 

[Skaadi]

There's safety in numbers, and mob mentality is something different. How many times have you passed by some girl on the highway with a flat tire? Did you stop to help? Have you ever had a flat tire on the highway? 400 people will drive by in the length of time it takes you to change one, and not one will even ask if you need help. And don't say 'oh everyone knows how to change a flat’, because you know that's a flat out lie.

Plus it totally depends on the guy who slapped the girl, if bruce lee slapped the girl, i'd like to see how many men step up to try and stop him. People will try and help so long as they're safe.

If you saw a flashlight flickering around your next door neighbors house, would you go over and investigate to make sure they're safe? You could call 911, but what if you saw the flashlight go from their 1st floor towards their bedroom, by the time the police got there they could be murdered and their jewelry stolen!

People don't care about other people. Aside from the .023% of the population that does, or at least act like they do, nobody cares. You don't really care what happens to me. If my entire family was brutally slaughtered at spork point this evening i know you would have NO trouble getting to bed tonight. If i had a car wreck and lost my right arm and leg, you would probably forget out it by lunch tomorrow. So if you don't care what happens to me, why should you care about stopping it?

You care about your girlfriend, your family, your dog, your car, your body, etc, yet notice how all those things start with 'your'. In fact i'd bet the stuff you care about is only stuff that affects you. Isn't that how humans really are?


--There's my $0.02 on caring. I'm ready for the flames, whenever you post something of this size with opinions like this there always are. Which is good i suppose, and just remember that you can make up any 'what if' situation to make your own point look good, they're kinda like statistics you can always make them work for you!

edit: after reading over this, i see a lot of places i wish i could expand upon, but the problem with that is nobody reads things longer than two lines That's why i try to use short/brief little cute paragraphs. But hey, No fear.

Nah, no flaming. You're absolutely right. Its really nice though if you meet someone who actually does care. There are more than you think.

 

[The Mullinator]

It is late and I am too tired to really get into this so this is all I will say:

Unless you believe in a higher being, the concept of "good" and "evil" are entirely human creations. Is humanity naturally good or bad? Well that depends on how you as an individual decide to define "good" and "evil". Some may say that humanity tends to be naturally good, while others may say humanity tends to be naturally evil. Both in fact can be right since what may differ is not the way they see humanity but the way they see right and wrong.

When I see the evils of humanity what I often see is really the side effects of human beings being taken out of our natural environments. Really we are animals meant to live in small tribes living rather simplistic lives, the gargantuous super tribes we have created and call civilizations are really not something we as a species were really designed for.

 

[Jintor]

Humanity is another species trying to collectively live as long as possible. There's no room for 'good' or 'evil'. Maybe 'selfish' and 'unselfish'.

 

[Raziaar]

Humanity is another species trying to collectively live as long as possible. There's no room for 'good' or 'evil'. Maybe 'selfish' and 'unselfish'.

We've evolved beyond primal instincts, so that we can see the good and bad things that we do, the good and evil. Killing people and saying you're just trying to survive by being the fittest of the species does not fly in the human realm. We're beyond that as far as the animal kingdom is concerned.

 

[Jintor]

...good point. I was being unneccesarily cynical.

 

[ComradeBadger]

It's down to a number of factors:

Genetics, primary socialisation, secondary socialisation and life experience.



As to the comment about helping people, I often try and help people out who I don't know, simply becuase I like to.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

To the person above, if you're trying to prove a point with a staged picture...

I've seen a guy slap his girl on public transportation, and then five unrelated strangers get up to stop him, just for a slap.

I was on a train and two guys where strangling each other, a women threatened to call the police

 

[Icarusintel]

There is no good or evil, but I would have to say that I think humans in general are amoral

Words like good and moral were developed so we could feel better about ourselves

 

[Flyingdebris]

it depends on many circumstances. I've met some really callous and nasty people and i've met some really selfless dogooder type people. Humanity as a whole tends to balance itself out more or less.

Me, I'm no selfless saint, but I do my best to help out those that ask for help and not be an asshat to those around me.

 

[Razor]

Humans, as a race are inherently good but lack the examples and the guidance to harness that good.

 

[Mr-Fusion]

Thanks Jor-el.

 

[swiss]

we are all selfish in nature.
Giving money to charity ? That is just to make yourself feel better...

 

[Dan]

Depends how you define good. Humanity's only goal is to continue existing. As a human myself, I would say that this makes humanity good. Because I'm part of humanity.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

We're naturally selfish. If you think about it, EVERY action we make is for ourselves, from the basal ones (stealing cookies from a cookie jar, to cure the desire for food) to the apparently good (standing up to defend the aformentioned slapped woman, which we do only to gain the approval of others).

Hell, even acts that you'd consider truly compassionate are selfish. Donate money to charity? I bet it gives you a warm feeling inside. Guess what - the only reason you donated was for the warm feeling, therefore it is selfish.

Edit: Swiss summed it up in less words.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Sulkdodds]

We're natrually ****s, but we have a capacity for enormous good.

 

[ríomhaire]

Supposedly, 10% of people are complete and utter bastards and 10% are completly good. Everyone else is in-between.

 

[Laivasse]

There is no good or evil, but I would have to say that I think humans in general are amoral

Words like good and moral were developed so we could feel better about ourselves

I totally agree with you here, morality is relative. But wasn't it you who said in another thread that some guy 'deserved to die' for a crime he committed?

I'm a firm believer that law does not equate to morals, and morals are are as much of a human invention as law, but they take slightly more account of human emotion and empathy. I don't believe we get anything out of believing we are 'better' than anyone else, because what is 'good' or 'better' is entirely subjective. Maybe some guy who appeared in the news for murder is nicer to his kids than you'll ever be to yours. Maybe that racist over there is unbendingly faithful in relationships. Maybe this guy here is out entirely for himself, but in the course of his life has made less problems for the people around him than the average person would have. What's 'good'? It serves peoples purposes to hate certain other people for being 'evil', but all it is is people slapping themselves on the back for their imaginary virtue, in an attempt to feel better about their lives.

I don't like humanity though. I call bullshit on the whole 'people look out for eachother thing'. Like I said in another thread once, I tried to stop a guy slapping his girlfriend around at a crowded bus stop once, and none of the people there batted an eyelid when he turned and punched me in the face a few times, not even when I called out for someone to do something as simple as call the police. People may not be good or evil, but they are certainly cowards, generally (myself not excluded).

What I like are dogs. Simple, loyal, conscientious animals with no pretentions of virtue or intelligence, and no deceit. That, to me personally, that's 'good'.

So whatever, I voted 'we're ****ed'

 

[Kamikazie]

we're ****ed D:

everyone has made good points, so i dont think i need to add my two cents

 

[CrazyHarij]

We are all ****ed. it's only important what you do yourself though.

but here in swedne people walk by rape, violence and shit happening in public areas just because they dont want others to look at them no civil courage at all

 

[Fishlore]

Humans are animals. No more, no less. We have millions of years of survival instincts ingrained within us. These survival instincts don't run in parallel to the way we're supposed to behave in a society. So my answer is no, we're not good natured beasts, just like each and every other species on this planet. We're smarter and able to think, but our brains have the same basic needs as animals that aren't smart and able to think.

This topic reminds me of the movie "Devil's Advocate." Pacino talks about how humans were given free will. Then god comes along and imposes rules that contradict a human's free will. All the while god sits backs and laughs at us fumbling all over ourselves. I don't believe in god, but the morals we place upon ourselves are a simple substitute.

John Milton: (Devil's Advocate)
"Let me give you a little inside information about God. God likes to watch. He's a prankster. Think about it. He gives man instincts. He gives you this extraordinary gift, and then what does He do, I swear for His own amusement, his own private, cosmic gag reel, He sets the rules in opposition. It's the goof of all time. Look but don't touch. Touch, but don't taste. Taste, don't swallow. Ahaha. And while you're jumpin' from one foot to the next, what is he doing? He's laughin' His sick, ****in' ass off. He's a tight-ass. He's a sadist. He's an absentee landlord. Worship that? Never. "

 

[JNightshade]

Rim-Fire, where did you hear that? I'm interested in the reasoning behind that statistic, especially considering that "good" and "evil" only exist on a mental, personal level. They're not absolutes in the least.

 

[ríomhaire]

Rim-Fire, where did you hear that? I'm interested in the reasoning behind that statistic, especially considering that "good" and "evil" only exist on a mental, personal level. They're not absolutes in the least.

I can't rightly remember, but I did hear it from somewhere.

 

[JNightshade]

Hmm. It just seems like BS to me (the thing you heard, not that you heard it)...

 

[OvA]

The answer to all your questions is tucked deep inside hello.jpeg

 

[short recoil]

It depends.