Mankind Is Inherentaly

[pbrauer]

Mankind Is Inherently:

Evil
Good
Neither good nor evil.
Other

 

[Ikari]

Mankind Is Inherently:

Evil
Good
Neither good nor evil.
Other

Neither, we're monkeys.

 

[sangha]

Mankind Is Inherently:

Evil
Good
Neither good nor evil.
Other

With a possible few exceptions (ie psychopaths) we are all born with the capacity to do good or do evil.

 

[MaggieD]

Mankind Is Inherently:

Evil
Good
Neither good nor evil.
Other

Since, if left to their own devices, children could probably be fairly labeled sociopathic, I'll go with we have more evil than good in our unbridled natures. Think Lord of the Flies.

 

[aseidner]

Ultimately, I think that mankind is inherently self serving, which could be manifested in both good and evil.

 

[Paschendale]

Neither, we're monkeys.

And both we and monkeys evolved to be cooperative and to empathize with those around us. I think we're basically good. Except when we're afraid.

Since, if left to their own devices, children could probably be fairly labeled sociopathic, I'll go with we have more evil than good in our unbridled natures. Think Lord of the Flies.

A prime example of fear trumping everything else and overriding our positive nature.

 

[Ikari]

And both we and monkeys evolved to be cooperative and to empathize with those around us. I think we're basically good. Except when we're afraid.

I don't know, monkeys do some very vicious things. I think that when it comes to humans it's not good or evil; but rather Intelligence or Instinct.

 

[Rainman05]

I'll stick with the "goog" version.

 

[Helix]

we're basically just monkeys with hopped up prefrontal cortexes. man is born with both animal and societal urges. we generally label the selfish animal urges "evil," and the constructive societal urges "good." given this, i suppose we're a blend of both.

 

[RabidAlpaca]

Mankind Is Inherently:

Evil
Good
Neither good nor evil.
Other

I'm going to choose neither, but I want to choose both.

How someone turns out is predominantly determined on how they are raised. You could take mother teresa, and have her reincarnated to 10,000 years ago, and she'd be jumping through trees and bashing people's heads in with rocks.

 

[MMC]

I would say we are more inherently evil.....as history attests. Man just tends to always outdo himself. IMO I based this off more harm and affronts man has done than good.

We are what is.....evil. Or we have not yet encountered another species more evil than us.

 

[spanky]

...evolving.

It is impossible to answer the question reliably until you define "good" and "evil".

 

[sawyerloggingon]

...evolving.

It is impossible to answer the question reliably until you define "good" and "evil".

IMO good is selfless acts while evil is selfish acts with no regard how your wants, needs and desires effect anyone else. Having said that I think we are born selfish and learn to be selfless, in most society's anyway. The Vikings may have been an exception to the rule.

 

[spanky]

IMO good is selfless acts while evil is selfish acts with no regard how your wants, needs and desires effect anyone else. Having said that I think we are born selfish and learn to be selfless, in most society's anyway. The Vikings may have been an exception to the rule.

Do you understand it is impossible for a human to make a decision that isn't inherently selfish? The difference isn't whether it's selfish or not it's how society views who selfishly benefits.

To you "good" is something that may benefit you instead of the do gooder. Which in itself is selfish.

 

[digsbe]

Inherently mankind is evil with an evil nature.

 

[spanky]

Inherently mankind is evil with an evil nature.

Define evil.

 

[sawyerloggingon]

Do you understand it is impossible for a human to make a decision that isn't inherently selfish?

To you "good" is something that may benefit you instead of the do gooder.

Lets go with the most simple of selfless acts. You are entering a store and someone is about to come out with arms full of groceries. You open the door for them and stand back as they exit. How is that selfish in any way shape or form?

 

[MMC]

IMO good is selfless acts while evil is selfish acts with no regard how your wants, needs and desires effect anyone else. Having said that I think we are born selfish and learn to be selfless, in most society's anyway. The Vikings may have been an exception to the rule.

.

<<<<<Kublai says. :lol:

 

[digsbe]

Define evil.

Sinful. I know that all humans are born with a sinful nature. We kill, we have sexual immorality, we are selfish, we disregard what we don't want to accept. People can be good, but the default is to be evil.

 

[ThePlayDrive]

Mankind Is Inherently:

Evil
Good
Neither good nor evil.
Other

Neither, simply because good and evil are social constructs. You can't really inherently be something that doesn't inherently exist.

We're just humans. Some humans decide to categorize behavior as "good" and "evil". Others, like me, try to shy away from such rigid categories.

 

[MMC]

Define evil.

Mankind.....Aka Human/Homo-Sapien!

 

[pbrauer]

I would say we are more inherently evil.....as history attests. Man just tends to always outdo himself. IMO I based this off more harm and affronts man has done than good.

We are what is.....evil. Or we have not yet encountered another species more evil than us.

Several years ago, I was listening to conservative talk show host Dennis Prager say the main difference between conservatives and liberals was that conservatives think mankind is basically evil while liberals think mankind is basically good. I agree with him.

 

[Dragonfly]

Based on there being 7 billion people alive, and that being more than has ever lived in the past, I'd say man is inherently good.

Most people generally all wish for the same things.

Love, happiness, and a sense of safety and security.

Most do indeed follow that path.

If man were indeed inherently evil I don't believe human life would have existed as long as it has and it surely wouldn't have flourished as well as it has.

We are all far more good than evil.

 

[ThePlayDrive]

Do you understand it is impossible for a human to make a decision that isn't inherently selfish?

This is incorrect. Comments like the above are usually made out of a misunderstanding of what "selfish" means. Selfish is defined as "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others" or "characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself". In other words, to be selfish means that you act for yourself at the expense of other people.

With that definition, the vast majority of human action is not selfish. Most people aren't screwing other people over every second of the day.

 

[MMC]

Several years ago, I was listening to conservative talk show host Dennis Prager say the main difference between conservatives and liberals was that conservatives think mankind is basically evil while liberals think mankind is basically good. I agree with him.

I get to hear him sometimes. Prager is one of the Smarter ones out there. I heard the same show. He agreed to that when you look at mankind on the personal level. Man is always affronting something. Including his very own people.....and blood!