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Tabula Rasa

Are people born a certain way or are we the result of our experiences/perceptions?

  • Born a certain way

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Result of our experiences/perceptions

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • A mix of the two

    Votes: 11 84.6%

  • Who knows?

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • Total voters
    13
Helvidius

Helvidius

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Tabular Rasa, or clean slate, is the idea that the human mind receives knowledge and forms itself based on experience alone, without any pre-existing innate ideas that would serve as a starting point.

Do you think people are defined by their experiences and perceptions of the world, or do you believe people are born a particular way?
 
All of my child development books promote the theory of inherent traits modified, promoted, or discouraged by external events. So nature + nurture, as it were.
 
Helvidius said:
Tabular Rasa, or clean slate, is the idea that the human mind receives knowledge and forms itself based on experience alone, without any pre-existing innate ideas that would serve as a starting point.

Do you think people are defined by their experiences and perceptions of the world, or do you believe people are born a particular way?
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There's a trend these days to explain everything away as being genetic, or a result of prenatal/early biochemical/hormonal influence, etc etc see "inborn".

I don't buy it. Sure, you inherit some things. I inherited blue-green eyes, a build like a bulldozer, and a tendency to suffer hair loss earlier than most. I probably inherited a hot temper and a inclination to violence as well, if half the stories I've heard about my Dad's younger days are true.

I keep my hot temper and predilection to violence under control. Why? Because I was taught to from early childhood, and my life experiences since have reinforced to me that it is bad to be a hothead. A cool head thinks more clearly and accomplishes things better.

Genetics and early development certainly play a role in personality and character, but I think upbringing, example and environment are at least equal in influence. Later, in adulthood, conscious choices can be made; I do not believe we are slaves to our genes.

I chose a mix of the two accordingly.
 
Nature:nuture

20:80

The 20 mostly because of intelligence.
 
tessaesque said:
All of my child development books promote the theory of inherent traits modified, promoted, or discouraged by external events. So nature + nurture, as it were.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree, but to play devil's advocate, how much do you think someone is shaped by their surroundings? Was Hitler born hating anyone outside the Aryan race? Is someone conservative, liberal, communist, socialist, fascist, etc because of their upbringing?
 
tessaesque said:
All of my child development books promote the theory of inherent traits modified, promoted, or discouraged by external events. So nature + nurture, as it were.
Click to expand...

My thoughts, too.
 
Well its both. Physiologically there are developmental milestones that are considered normal within a certain range. They require input/output from the central nervous system to work. I don't know about psychologically, but I would assume there are some milestones in there as well. Both can be influenced through experience, but we wouldn't be the creature we are without a common ground of development.
 
Helvidius said:
I tend to agree, but to play devil's advocate, how much do you think someone is shaped by their surroundings? Was Hitler born hating anyone outside the Aryan race? Is someone conservative, liberal, communist, socialist, fascist, etc because of their upbringing?
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I think it's probably heavily on nurture, but nuture is limited by what nature has provided. A child who is inherently nervous or frightened around people from birth is probably not going to be a public speaker some day.
 
Interesting tidbit: I read a study last year that tracked intelligence in children. They measure children living with their bio parents and children living with adoptive parents. The also measure the intelligence of the parental units. Children tracked amazingly close to their bio parents consistently (even if they lived with adoptive parents), so if the bio parent was in the 60th percentile the child would be pretty close as well, even if the adoptive parent was in the 90th percentile. They were tested once yearly over five years, as well.
 
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Nature vs nurture vs intelligence.. Not sure what percentages I would give each. Maybe it's a 3way split. I give a lot of credence to intellect/adaptability. Also with that your dealing with emotional IQ. I beleive a lot of folks who want to go with the "Tabula Resa" concept may have major psychopaths/criminals as ancestors.
 
I find it obvious to say both. What I find interesting is genetics and the environment are the same fundamentally except their proximity of influence. One is an objective environment, the other, the innermost part of a person. It's humorous, but also scary, that some use the macro-astrological reasoning that the planets and seasons can make a tall or short person.
 
One must also lookn at the power of suggestion on some folks.. For example if your told "your just like your father/mother you my be inclined to subconsciously mimmick their life.
 
StillBallin75 said:
I suck because we agree? Thanks a lot lol.

btw my rooting for Dallas last night was the reason Dirk was such a beast ;)
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LOL. You're taking credit for him? Pfft!

We've decided to have shirts made that say "Circle Dirk" on them. Hope to have 'em done by Sunday.
 
To put it in simple terms, everyone is born with a certain genotype, however, the phenotype is dependent upon environment.
 
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