The true nature of humans has always been a mystery to mankind. Most would like to believe that men are inherently good, and that we will take the higher road if given the option. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (LoF) follows a group of young schoolboys left alone on an island to show that when man is stripped bare, only uncontrollable savagery remains. Also, no form of government can control the way men truly are. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes shows a similar theory about the nature of mankind…
Some debates that surround this topic are good deeds and the selfish or selfless intentions behind these good deeds and the ability of one evil deed weighing out all good deeds. Although some humans’ good actions are motivated by selfish intentions, humans are fundamentally good because they often are willing to risk their lives for safety of others, lend a helping hand in a time of crisis and are naturally good…
Both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were political philosophers and pioneers in the belief that humans in a state of normalcy under no government belonged under the category “State of Nature”. Also both were both social contract theorists in the sense that in the need of a government their needs to be some sort of contract/understanding between the people and the structured power. At first agreeing on this premise, they would come to differ in the end both having radically difference of opinions.…
Machiavelli’s Attitude Toward Human Nature: Is It Accurate? Machiavelli is often criticised for his attitude toward human nature, being seen as overly cynical of humanity. However, is this portrayal of Machiavelli warranted, or are his viewpoints justified? By analyzing key points made in The Qualities of the Prince and comparing these arguments to real world examples, it is possible to determine whether Machiavelli’s beliefs regarding human nature are sound. There is one portion of his essay…
Carson portrays society as the impending victim of rampant parathion use to cultivate fear towards the toxin’s universal lethality, censuring society’s selfish treatment of the environment. She fosters the realization that society’s preoccupation with profit has jeopardized its own health in portraying humans as a target of death, from which pesticide field workers had barely “escaped.” Carson arouses anxiety towards the future of public safety to reprimand humanity’s narcissistic inattention to…
” directed by Stanley Kubrick, this statement takes upon a new meaning. Both Crane and Kubrick validate this message by showing that men grow selfish in the race to war glory and status, which in turn dehumanizes and uselessly kills innocent soldiers. They are expected to look this death in the face with unconditional bravery, which is against human nature. War is typically fought between two sides, each with its own purpose and goal. Team effort is essential and even critical. How can one side…
Selfish qualities in a person are usually looked down on in society because it is such a negative attribute. Being around a selfish person makes people feel unwanted or uncared for which is what makes selfishness a bad quality. The author uses this quality in his stories in order to show the state the villages were in before the outsiders came. When the outsiders first appeared in the story it was very clear that the villagers were selfish. They only cared about themselves and never thought of…
All of it — from human nature to the notion of “payment” — is a confused mess that nonetheless circulates in capitalist society as a legitimate response to…
fiction, focuses its literature on the human being confronting a transition regarding his environment, encountering scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and drastic changes in society and in nature. Throughout the texts authors focus to provide “What if?” questions pushing both the author & reader to different possibilities and outcomes. Sci-Fi tries to explain all known to existence; this genre is mainly focused in the society as a whole, how the humans got to be what they are,…
Voltaire’s Candide, the Enlightenment ideals are displayed and paralleled through his encounters. These ideals are portrayed through Candide’s formal education and knowledge of philosophy, reflecting the beliefs of the Philosophes. Also, the ideal of human nature as good or evil was depicted through Martin and Candide’s opinions. Last, logic and reason were represented through justice throughout the book and Candide’s belief in a world of cause and…