Human Nature…Good…?Bad…?

By: Tommy Lee

Man is both good AND evilHuman nature differs from how people view on things and what they believe in.

Basically, “good” is the name we give when a person does things that humans in common like

“evil” is the name we give when a person does things that humans in common DONOT like.

Man is GOOD…

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=happy+emoticon&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=m9uxf9NJ0ZkpdM:&imgrefurl=http://onsoftware.en.softonic.com/create-the-worlds-greatest-emoticon&docid=VvxLG-E_Q1O-iM&w=150&h=145&ei=A5GNTsyELYGUiQeIvdiYDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=140&vpy=198&dur=1201&hovh=116&hovw=120&tx=104&ty=95&page=3&tbnh=98&tbnw=101&start=18&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:18&biw=673&bih=443

Importance of laws and orders within a society“Which Is better, to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?” is said by Piggy in Chap 11. Piggy asks a rhetorical question to indicate that human nature is meant to have laws and orders in order to form a society.

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=lotf+piggy&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=R05QcOMBeF-NYM:&imgrefurl=http://xxlizzxx.glogster.com/Lord-of-the-Flies-Piggy/&docid=Z76yV8kRpvC7CM&w=400&h=300&ei=DZeNTpTGN6iuiQew353lDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=2&vpy=120&dur=3768&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=169&ty=164&page=1&tbnh=114&tbnw=151&start=0&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&biw=673&bih=442

Order and Cooperation “ We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. (16:9).” Piggy states this to Ralph informing the need of order and cooperation among people- human nature is meant to work together to better one’s condition.

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=helping+each+other&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=unBe0fO-SG5ecM:&imgrefurl=http://cafelogos.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/i-need-you-more-than-you-need-me/rock-climbers-helping-each-other/&docid=2ji1enRlCiwQCM&w=512&h=340&ei=9pmNTv79JKihiAffuICeDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=2&vpy=122&dur=943&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=118&ty=163&page=4&tbnh=92&tbnw=123&start=29&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:29&biw=673&bih=433

Adam Smith’s (Philosopher) thoughts

"How selfish so ever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it." (http://www.adamsmith.org/adam-smith/)

Human nature is complicated and complex. People are self-interested, but at the same time, we also like to help others too.

Conventions and Groups Today, conventions and groups are organized to help people who are in need of help.

UN (United Nations)

UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)

WHO (World Health Organization)

Etc.

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=un&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=jVLvPb-OzFwQvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.peacewomen.org/peacewomen_and_the_un/&docid=Ppid7Yk-D1gkEM&w=400&h=313&ei=IZyNTsv-I-eciAf6i5GLDg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=2&page=3&tbnh=94&tbnw=101&start=16&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:16&tx=43&ty=1&biw=673&bih=433

Helping Others (Personal Experience) Back in the days when I was in Korea, I often had friends who got hurt and needed help. Whenever there were accidents, I helped them get to the nurse. This suggested that it is human nature to help others who are in harsh conditions.

Man is EVIL

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=evil&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=btHi_ZlYOy8vWM:&imgrefurl=http://www.designyourway.net/blog/wallpapers/collection-of-over-70-excellent-dark-wallpapers/&docid=MLmuA5Kzlg2bBM&w=430&h=344&ei=_MGNToXZDuq8iAf7ir3pDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=381&page=1&tbnh=101&tbnw=130&start=0&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=102&ty=59&biw=675&bih=433

Robbery…

First of all, why are there frequent robberies?

The answer to the question is because people are never satisfied with what they have. It is human nature to be jealous or to be greedy of something.

Murder…Few month ago, in Korea, a wife in a family killed her husband to earn the death benefit which was about $100,000 and was caught few weeks later. This kind of murder is due to the human nature of being selfish and greedy and when considering the frequent murders, it is evidently clear that human nature is EVIL.

Thomas Hobbes (Philosopher) thoughts

Thomas Hobbes was a Philosopher who believed that human nature was evil. He claimed that all humans have an evil side in themselves and they would need laws and orders to control what they do.

Evilness is something that is within a human being.

“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?”

The Lord of the Flies speaks these lines to Simon in Chapter 8. These words informs Simon that the “beast”, which symbolizes fear and evilness, is within the boys.

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=bad&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=P5qp6AWHgLESRM:&imgrefurl=http://hrbeginner.blogspot.com/2011/01/ugly-truth-about-having-bad-day.html&docid=nXj1AoBzfY6UhM&w=1280&h=1024&ei=i4KRTtWMAqq6iAft-6ibDg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=133&page=2&tbnh=119&tbnw=160&start=6&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:6&tx=127&ty=58&biw=714&bih=479

The existence of laws and penalties

When considering the existence of laws and penalties and its functionality, we can assume that people need something to control themselves in order to prevent crimes and incidents from happening. As a result, human nature is evil and orders are prerequisites to maintain a stable society.

http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=laws+and+penalties&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&sa=X&tbm=isch&tbnid=ZTxmZL014a1ewM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8626134_south-carolina-extortion-laws-penalties.html&docid=jbW5UugJfk2joM&w=225&h=220&ei=N4ORTp7pBMG7iAeg2aCLDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=419&vpy=127&dur=40&hovh=176&hovw=180&tx=126&ty=109&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=136&start=0&ndsp=7&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&biw=714&bih=479

BUT…Man can also be BOTH…

RogerIn the beginning of the story, Roger is a civilized boy who followed Ralph’s rules. However, as Jack starts to gain power among the boys, Roger starts treating Jack as his leader and turns into a savage boy.

This proves that man can be both good and evil. http://www.google.com.hk/imgres?q=roger+lotf&um=1&hl=ko&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=2-

oStSo-KpDI8M:&imgrefurl=http://jack-lotf.wikispaces.com/Jack-Lotf&docid=h1DkwLfllHhBDM&w=400&h=300&ei=yoORTqGDKMWQiQfassn1DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=232&vpy=102&dur=1297&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=202&ty=176&page=2&tbnh=123&tbnw=164&start=7&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:7&biw=714&bih=479

John Locke’s (Philosopher) thoughtsAccording to John Locke, human nature is both good and evil and that humans have an innate sense of right and wrong. He claimed that “Man is by nature a social animal.” which means man are born in a clean state and is influenced by its society.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=john+locke%27s+view+on+human+nature+good+or+evil&um=1&hl=en&newwindow=1&sa=N&biw=714&bih=468&tbm=isch&tbnid=1_elA_F3My-xrM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ysursa.com/history/US%2520Hist/Liberalism_debate.htm&docid=pSCM_7yti7cfxM&w=189&h=204&ei=H4mRToOHAu-PiAfLvbjoDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=222&vpy=157&dur=86&hovh=163&hovw=151&tx=88&ty=48&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=114&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

ConclusionAfter reading LOTF (Lord of the Flies) and exploring some philosopher’s

thoughts towards the authenticity of human nature, human nature seems to be both good and evil. When people are born, they are in a clean state and they are gradually influenced by the society or even the people surrounding them. John Locke, a philosopher, claimed that “Man is by nature a social animal.” which supports the idea that “good” or “evil” is decided from what one adapts to. Like Roger in LOTF, man can easily assimilate the changed environment and can undergo a sudden change.

Moreover, the existence of laws and penalties prove that it is impossible for humans to be just “good” or just “evil”. For example, if we consider the law-breakers, we can’t say that they are good; conversely, if we consider the innocents, we can’t say that they are bad. When analyzing the forms of governments in different countries, it is evidently clear that people are both good and evil since there is no utopia or dystopia. Therefore, people are both good and evil.

As mentioned, this question is a very complex and philosophic question to consider, thus there isn’t a correct or incorrect answer to it.

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"100 People Who Changed the World | Biography Online." Biography Online | Biographies of Inspirational and Famous People. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. <http://www.biographyonline.net/people/people-who-changed-world.html>.