Humans by Nature

[Afigueroa22]

Are we naturally good or naturally bad?

Are we born with intellect? (ex: Einstein, Da Vinci, Hawking)

What is your opinion on how we as the human race have done so far? Please take into account as many aspects you can. (ex: wars, morals, media, social conventions, etc.)

Really take a second to think about this.

[jobberone]

Well, we are much more like Pan troglodytes than Pan paniscus so I would look at their behavior and its similarities to man. In fact they are so similar some think we should be in the same genus with them esp considering we share much of the same genetics.

[trickblue]

No way to answer this...

Some people take on genetic traits from biological parents while others don't... no scientific explanation as to why...

Some traits are learned, and some are built in...

The only thing we DO know is that we are all born innocent...

[vta]

The answer probably depends on mood, circumstance and perspective.
One man can look at where humanity has come and gone and think it's a wonderful thing. Another can look at the same thing and mourn.

Ask a Sudanese this question and you'll get the entirely opposite answer had you asked an upscale American.

Overall if history teaches us anything it's that men don't learn from history, people still fight over land masses and resources. Despite, after securing their prosperity through war and solidifying certain era's of reasonable peace, they still degenerate into war at some point. They can maintain certain postures of higher thinking and reason, but in the end, military advantage is still the great restrictor of all out war, not reason.

Technology and science grow and so do greater ways to kill and abuse people with it.

It's not all bad. Some terrible people have done terrible things and created horrible situations. Some special people have been able to make some beautiful things and sometimes out of those terrible situations.

[Afigueroa22]

No way to answer this...

Some people take on genetic traits from biological parents while others don't... no scientific explanation as to why...

Some traits are learned, and some are built in...

The only thing we DO know is that we are all born innocent...

These traits can be bypassed through sheer will. Every person has a precipice that changes the way they look at life and behave.

[CanadianCowboysFan]

We have progressed over the last million or so years of evolution.

I think generally man is good, that is why the bad stands out so much.

We are products both of genetics and environment.

My son is smarter than some as his parents are above average intelligence but he also has a good environment, his parents earn good inc, give him all the opportunity he needs to succeed. If we were poor, then he might not have had the same opportunities (certainly no private hockey club).

[jobberone]

Absolutely man has the free will to moderate his emotions and behaviors which are formed from both environment and genetics. However, if you look at the broad picture we are much more like P trog than any of the other primates and that should create some thought.

If you look at violent behavior, crime and testosterone levels you will be amazed. Is the female of these species more able to moderate behavior to avoid destructiveness or is it more in the genes/hormones/yada than we'd like to believe?

[The30YardSlant]

There is really no way to have a conversation about the inherant good or evil within mankind without bringing any sort of religion or spirituality into the discussion, because any inherant universal good or evil within us would have to be present at some higher level. If no such things exist, then we are simply products of our environment and genetics, "good" and "evil" have no real meaning outside of individual morality and this discussion is moot.

[trickblue]

These traits can be bypassed through sheer will. Every person has a precipice that changes the way they look at life and behave.

I disagree... there are several documented cases of siblings separated doing the same thing...

My oldest son has been with me longer than with his bio father (they have little contact), but definitely has his trait of irresponsibility/putting things off...

He didn't get that from me or mom...

[Teren_Kanan]

There is really no way to have a conversation about the inherant good or evil within mankind without bringing any sort of religion or spirituality into the discussion, because any inherant universal good or evil within us would have to be present at some higher level. If no such things exist, then we are simply products of our environment and genetics, "good" and "evil" have no real meaning outside of individual morality and this discussion is moot.

This.

[notherbob]

What is good?

What is bad?

Who says so?

Who makes the rules?

Who enforces the rules?

Where's the door if I want out?

[The30YardSlant]

What is good?

What is bad?

Who says so?

Who makes the rules?

Who enforces the rules?

Where's the door if I want out?

Exactly.

Either there is a supreme entity, being or set of laws that govern the universe or there isn't and morality, good/evil, etc. is up for individual interpretation and nobody is inherantly anything, they just simply are.

Personally, I believe their is a higher authority from which morality is clearly derived and that man is inherantly good and the world twists and corrupts certain individuals because of a number of factors. I don't believe anyone is born "evil".

[trickblue]

***** ****** this is easy...

What is bad?
Washington Redskins

Who says so?
I do

Who makes the rules?
I do

Who enforces the rules?
I do

Where's the door if I want out?
You can't get away from reality... it is what it is...

[The30YardSlant]

***** ****** this is easy...

What is bad?
Washington Redskins

Who says so?
I do

Who makes the rules?
I do

Who enforces the rules?
I do

Where's the door if I want out?
You can't get away from reality... it is what it is...

So sayeth trickblue

[trickblue]

So sayeth trickblue

Yep... which is why your bible says "trickblue" on the lower right-hand side...

I'm Gospel... ;)

[Denim Chicken]

Man is good. Men are evil.

[Afigueroa22]

Man is good. Men are evil.

:bravo:

[Afigueroa22]

Ask a Sudanese this question and you'll get the entirely opposite answer had you asked an upscale American.

Maybe the fact that we don't actually try to get rid of the "classes" should tell you something.

[vta]

Maybe the fact that we don't actually try to get rid of the "classes" should tell you something.

Something about human nature.

[Sam I Am]

Are we naturally good or naturally bad?We are products of both our environment and our genetics.


Are we born with intellect? (ex: Einstein, Da Vinci, Hawking)
No, intellect is "book smarts". Wisdom is different. it is learned through experience and no, you are not born with wisdom either. Now, some people are born with a natural ability in deductive reasoning. Those with that ability tend to be wiser than people who cannot.


What is your opinion on how we as the human race have done so far? Please take into account as many aspects you can. (ex: wars, morals, media, social conventions, etc.)

My opinion? There are enough people that are selfish, greedy, power hungry, stupid, and flat criminals to make the would a inhospitable place.

[Sam I Am]

Maybe the fact that we don't actually try to get rid of the "classes" should tell you something.

That would never happen in today's society. Someone will have to be a street sweeper, someone will have to be a company CEO. Society could not afford to pay all the street sweepers CEO money and great CEOs aren't a dime a dozen so when you find one, you have to pay him boat loads of cash to be your company's CEO. That money difference is what sets the classes apart.

[Afigueroa22]

That would never happen in today's society. Someone will have to be a street sweeper, someone will have to be a company CEO. Society could not afford to pay all the street sweepers CEO money and great CEOs aren't a dime a dozen so when you find one, you have to pay him boat loads of cash to be your company's CEO. That money difference is what sets the classes apart.

I know we must have minimum wage emloyees but must we have starving children all over the world? Must we have buffets? The gap between rich and poor (globally) should be much smaller.

[Sam I Am]

I know we must have minimum wage emloyees but must we have starving children all over the world? Must we have buffets? The gap between rich and poor (globally) should be much smaller.

That is why the rich should pay higher taxes and they should eliminate tax loopholes in general. If someone or a company owes taxes. Make them pay the damn taxes not find ways out of playing it.

They say 90% of the money is in the hands of 10% of the worlds population. There are billionaires that just sit on their cash rather than putting it to use. Use like help feeding the hungry.

Of course, there are hungry people out there that are hungry because they won't get off their ***. Some people put themselves in that position. The bad thing is, sometimes putting themselves in that positions puts their kids in that position too.

[Afigueroa22]

That is why the rich should pay higher taxes and they should eliminate tax loopholes in general. If someone or a company owes taxes. Make them pay the damn taxes not find ways out of playing it.

I used to agree that the rich should be taxed more, but I've come to realize it's not fair. Companies on the other hand should be taxed up the backdoor. We are getting into politics so let's stop here :).

Many people are lazy, I agree. Most are put into unfair positions by fellow humans. Single mothers, families of murder victims, families of fallen soldiers, etc. Nationally, I come from a low class family. Globally, I understand I have more than one can ask for.

We as a species would rather not think about those that suffer while we bath in riches. Do we really need a billion dollar stadium? Do we need to pay athletes multi-millions?

All these things let us know what kind of people we are. If you look at what is on T.V. you will see what we value.

[Sam I Am]

That's not fair? Tell the guy working minimum wage living in a studio apartment and taking the bus to work to serve the guy with the $5M house and $250k car.

[vta]

I know we must have minimum wage emloyees but must we have starving children all over the world? Must we have buffets? The gap between rich and poor (globally) should be much smaller.

These concerns fall under moral obligation and frankly with people thinking morality is ambiguous, you're not going to find a consensus on what's right and what's wrong. A person gorging figures it's his/her right to have as much as their money buys, etc, etc.

[The30YardSlant]

That is why the rich should pay higher taxes and they should eliminate tax loopholes in general.

The only way to truly eliminate tax loopholes is to go to a flat tax or some variation of it. Tax loopholes exist precisely because of the tax bracket system.

The whole Robin Hood system that our tax brackets are modeled after sounds noble and all, but it is incredibly flawed and I personally loathe it. Essentially, America places a tax on success. Flat tax is the way to go, sad as it may sound the medium and high income households should not be forced to prop up those below them.

[The30YardSlant]

That's not fair? Tell the guy working minimum wage living in a studio apartment and taking the bus to work to serve the guy with the $5M house and $250k car.

Life's not fair. Nobody is guranteed equality of results in life.

[Sam I Am]

Life's not fair. Nobody is guranteed equality of results in life.

Yes. Which is another reason the rich should pay more taxes. :)

[The30YardSlant]

Yes. Which is another reason the rich should pay more taxes. :)

So your solution to life's lack of "fairness" is to support an unfair tax rate? HALF of all Americans don't pay any taxes at all and you're whining about a flat tax being unfair?

[Sam I Am]

So your solution to life's lack of "fairness" is to support an unfair tax rate? HALF of all Americans don't pay any taxes at all and you're whining about a flat tax being unfair?

There is nothing unfair about it. I pay more taxes than most Americans and I support it.

Anyhow. Time to drop this. It is a politically based subject.

[DallasEast]

There is nothing unfair about it. I pay more taxes than most Americans and I support it.

Anyhow. Time to drop this. It is a politically based subject.
:hammer:

[WV Cowboy]

1) Are we naturally good or naturally bad?

2 ) Are we born with intellect? (ex: Einstein, Da Vinci, Hawking)

3) What is your opinion on how we as the human race have done so far?


1) All have sinned and fallen short ...

2) Intellect, emotion and will.

3) Probably cyclical, but it is deteorating right now.

[Afigueroa22]

1) All have sinned and fallen short ...

2) Intellect, emotion and will.

3) Probably cyclical, but it is deteorating right now.

1) I did not ask if we sinned, I asked if we would sin naturally with no direction.

2) To what extent does intellect present itself in most of us?

3) Do you mean it varies? I am not familiar with this term.

[WV Cowboy]

1) I did not ask if we sinned, I asked if we would sin naturally with no direction.

2) To what extent does intellect present itself in most of us?

3) Do you mean it varies? I am not familiar with this term.

1) Since I feel that we all have sinned, I am saying we all sin naturally

2) I think each has different levels/extent of intellect, emotion and will, ... who can measure each?

3) Small cycles of getting better and worse, .. deteorating right now

[Afigueroa22]

1) Since I feel that we all have sinned, I am saying we all sin naturally

2) I think each has different levels/extent of intellect, emotion and will, ... who can measure each?

3) Small cycles of getting better and worse, .. deteorating right now

I believe we can measure our intellect as a whole by observing our media and technological advances. We have come far but we seem to be in a stasis, technologically speaking. Most use their abilities to profit. Rarely do we see inventions come out that help.

Even medicinally people look to profit from illness. Do you know why most medicines do not cure, but only relieve? They don't make enough money off of a one time cure. Repeat business is the key to profiting.

Green cars and electric cars have existed for quite some time now. Why are they barely being released it seems? Oil companies bought out these projects and scrapped them. Nevermind that it means less pollution for our Earth, we want money.

[WV Cowboy]

1) Since I feel that we all have sinned, I am saying we all sin naturally

2) I think each has different levels/extent of intellect, emotion and will, ... who can measure each?

3) Small cycles of getting better and worse, .. deteorating right now

Misspelled deteriorating, ... twice. I knew it didn't look right. Oh well.

[CanadianCowboysFan]

1) Since I feel that we all have sinned, I am saying we all sin naturally

2) I think each has different levels/extent of intellect, emotion and will, ... who can measure each?

3) Small cycles of getting better and worse, .. deteorating right now

how are people deteriorating?

[jobberone]

I believe we can measure our intellect as a whole by observing our media and technological advances. We have come far but we seem to be in a stasis, technologically speaking. Most use their abilities to profit. Rarely do we see inventions come out that help.

Even medicinally people look to profit from illness. Do you know why most medicines do not cure, but only relieve? They don't make enough money off of a one time cure. Repeat business is the key to profiting.

Green cars and electric cars have existed for quite some time now. Why are they barely being released it seems? Oil companies bought out these projects and scrapped them. Nevermind that it means less pollution for our Earth, we want money.

Bullflop!

[WV Cowboy]

how are people deteriorating?

Not each person, society, ... people as a group.

The question addressed the human race.

[Afigueroa22]

Bullflop!

Really think about it. The men who sit at the top do not think like you and I.

1.They technically are not hurting anyone(in their eyes).

2.The medicine does relieve some pain.

3.The money keeps the trophy wife and top notch hookers around.

I don't believe all pharmaceutical companies adopt this method. Most or some? We may never know.

[jobberone]

Really think about it. The men who sit at the top do not think like you and I.

1.They technically are not hurting anyone(in their eyes).

2.The medicine does relieve some pain.

3.The money keeps the trophy wife and top notch hookers around.

I don't believe all pharmaceutical companies adopt this method. Most or some? We may never know.

99.9% of doctors don't think about money while practicing. Pharmaceuticals are always thinking money but they have to pass clinical trials which are rigorous and tied to results not conspiracies. You're way off base here.

[jnday]

Are we naturally good or naturally bad?

Are we born with intellect? (ex: Einstein, Da Vinci, Hawking)

What is your opinion on how we as the human race have done so far? Please take into account as many aspects you can. (ex: wars, morals, media, social conventions, etc.)

Really take a second to think about this.

1. Humans are just like other animals. We are born selfish, so I think they are born bad. Good behaviour is taught.
2. Each human is born with various levels of intellect. Some are more gifted than others which is passed down through DNA.
3. Humans have done very well as a species. A quick look at the population increase over the years proves that and the growth is in spite of wars and disease. Humans haven't been around as long as many other species ,so it's anybody's guess how we will do long term.

[DallasEast]

-Na9-jV_OJI

[CliffnMesquite]

Humans are the same as any other animal. The lion will sit under a tree and groom and play with her cubs. Then when you walk by, she will chase you down and eat you. Does that make her evil or just a good mother?

[jnday]

Humans are the same as any other animal. The lion will sit under a tree and groom and play with her cubs. Then when you walk by, she will chase you down and eat you. Does that make her evil or just a good mother?

Good point. A child has to be taught to share. It is natural to look after one's self just like the lion. The child is just following instinct to look after itself by being selfish. Humans are quick to go back to basic animal instincts. During Katrina people were hurting and even killing for water, food and gas. Most of these people were trying to survive. I actually watched people in fights and arguments over food and water after the storm hit. It was just like two dogs fighting over a feeding bowl.

[Afigueroa22]

99.9% of doctors don't think about money while practicing. Pharmaceuticals are always thinking money but they have to pass clinical trials which are rigorous and tied to results not conspiracies. You're way off base here.

Doctors are a different story, I never mentioned them. Even if I did you could never make a claim that 99.9% do it for the sake of helping. I'd go as high as 85% but 99% is statistically unlikely.