Humans: Basically good or evil?
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,306
I've been reading James Bradley's book The Imperial Cruise which is really more about a period of American history as relating to our interactions with several Asian countries between the late 1800's and 1905 than it is about the Imperial cruise of 1905. Bradley pieces together a section of our history that has never been fully written about and much of what he says seems rather controversial (and yet, despite a open invitation by the New York Times, no one has stepped forward to prove anything Bradley say is false.) Much of what takes place in this time period involves many instances of great cruelty and bloodshed. And yet this is but a brief period of time. When taken as a whole, many, many incidences of widespread cruelty and horrible violence can be seen throughout human history.
I mentioned all of this to my wife and told her that it just makes no sense to me. I said that in all my life, I have personally only known one or two people whom I can imagine carrying out such cruel and violent behavior. She said. "We have lived a very sheltered life. Humans are a very [terrible? I can't remember the exact word] species." And this is coming from someone who is more open, accepting and loving of people than pretty much anyone I know.
So how is this possible? It begs that age old question: Are humans basically good or evil? My experience is that people are basically good. I have known very few people I would describe as evil and capable of the kind of horrors written about throughout human history. And yet there must be and have been huge numbers of evil people for so many atrocities to have occurred throughout history, with no end to them in sight. I find it hard to believe humans are inherently evil... but I don't know. Maybe I have indeed just led a sheltered life.
Thoughts?
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What I will say is that humans are, at our essence, xenophobic. There is ample research demonstrating this. I think this accounts for the way individuals can go above and beyond to help someone who they see as somehow within their community, however it is defined (large or small), but yet en masses we can be so violent to those we see as others.
Eddie Vedder said
Tell me if there were no Angel's. Would there be no sin.
I think we are both at all times but we prefer the easy way...that's the good. There ain't no rest for the wicked and that's the hard way.
I think you are a good guy. Really good. But pushed hard enough. Whipped long enough and sooner or later that opportunity to get justice revenge whatever against whomever. You may take it....or not and just take it
Opportunists.
Modern societies have shifted most people away from the middle toward empathic and cooperative behavior with selfish aggression peppered in, but it doesn't take much to bring the balance back to the zone where atrocities become commonplace.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
I'm not so sure. That being said... I wouldn't go as far as to say we are inherently bad either.
I feel there are some things linked to our instincts that are challenging for many to control. We try to paint a pretty picture of humanity and how special we are... but I agree with RG that we are just animals- really really complex animals.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
I think, if our species survives, it will eventually evolve to transcend the capitalistic drive and become more of a "one" where we help each other out rather than fight for ourselves.
but I think before that happens, a revolution will have to take place. a bloody one. or a catastrophic event where millions, possibly billions, die. I know, it sounds like a movie (and possibly a badly cliched one), but it's what I think will happen.
-EV 8/14/93
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"