Karl Marx Human Nature Analysis

Several positions exist in philosophy regarding human nature. Karl Marx and Charles Darwin give two of these positions. Karl Marx’s philosophical position on human nature was that economic substructure and society determines human nature (Wall 279). He felt that humans are social animals that are driven to produce in a way that benefited society, and that human nature is “expressed in a drive to spontaneously and creatively produce products in a manner that is conducive to social and individual satisfaction” (Byron). Marx’s view is that human nature is driven by social and economic forces that serve to better society as a whole and push humans to make this happen. His view explained that, due to differing economic status or society, there were differences in the human nature in different societies and classes (Wall 279). Marx’s view on human nature pinpoints economic class and societal drives as the basis of human nature. Charles Darwin held a different view on human nature. He asserted that human nature is determined by behaviors that were selected for through the process of evolution. According to this theory, …show more content…
I feel that many behaviors found in humans that can be linked back to some sort of brain chemistry or structure. Many of the emotions that are felt by humans that one might consider part of human nature can also be linked back to biology or neuropsychology. There are many behaviors, which are most easily seen in people who experience some kind of disorder that affects behavior, that several parts of the brain and various chemicals acting within the brain contribute to given behaviors found in humans. Through such observations, one is able to find where certain behaviors or feelings are originating. Therefore, I feel that human nature is determined by the biology of humans, which encourages behaviors that are unique to humans and produce what is known as human