Are people inherently good or bad?

[DrawninwarD]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
I say more are inherently good than bad. We just hear about the bad ones far more often.

Yeah I think so too.

 

[ggnl]

People are gullible. Whether they turn out good or bad depends on enviroment.

 

[imported_Champ]

Selfish?...good or bad is not an option because people inherently care about themselves and therefore their actions may be seen as good or bad when they are just selfish

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
It seems you're completely ignoring the "nature vs nurture" debate with this question and declaring "nature" as the definitive answer. I've come to believe that it's truly a mix of a both and that there are traits we gain that can define us in certain ways.

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Neither. It's more the combination of people's genes, upbringing, and social interactions. All of those things combined are what will make a person "good" or "bad".

KT

I'm not necessarily ignoring external factors affecting a person's "goodness". It's just not what I'm particularly interested in.

I'm more curious about people's feelings about the instinctive qualities of man - the "nature" part of the nature vs. nurture. The part that we ultimately don't have any control over.

For example, one could argue that people are inherently "bad" - and a "good" upbringing merely does a better job at suppressing the "bad".

Or you can say that people are inherently "good" - and a "bad" upbringing or negative events in a person's life leads them to be "bad".

I know the good/bad is silly, but it's Monday morning and I don't feel like working and I'm always a fan of pseudo-intellectual talk on ridiculous topics.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: ducci

Originally posted by: Aikouka
It seems you're completely ignoring the "nature vs nurture" debate with this question and declaring "nature" as the definitive answer. I've come to believe that it's truly a mix of a both and that there are traits we gain that can define us in certain ways.

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Neither. It's more the combination of people's genes, upbringing, and social interactions. All of those things combined are what will make a person "good" or "bad".

KT

I'm not necessarily ignoring external factors affecting a person's "goodness". It's just not what I'm particularly interested in.

I'm more curious about people's feelings about the instinctive qualities of man - the "nature" part of the nature vs. nurture. The part that we ultimately don't have any control over.

For example, one could argue that people are inherently "bad" - and a "good" upbringing merely does a better job at suppressing the "bad".

Or you can say that people are inherently "good" - and a "bad" upbringing or negative events in a person's life leads them to be "bad".

I know the good/bad is silly, but it's Monday morning and I don't feel like working and I'm always a fan of pseudo-intellectual talk on ridiculous topics.

That's what I meant to say when I quoted those two as well. 😛

Damn case of the Mundays....

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: moshquerade
I say more are inherently good than bad. We just hear about the bad ones far more often.

I'd argue that even when people are doing something "good", it isn't really "good" for our race as a whole.

Really? Example?

Originally posted by: magomago
people, imo, are inherently good.

Originally posted by: DrawninwarD

Originally posted by: moshquerade
I say more are inherently good than bad. We just hear about the bad ones far more often.

Yeah I think so too.

Thanks guys. 🙂

 

[Passions]

Originally posted by: Pheran
We got asked this in high school (a long time ago!) as part of an assignment after reading Lord of the Flies. I've spent time on and off over the years coming back to the question. Ultimately I think it's a misframed question, and that people are not inherently good or bad. However, in general I think that people are inherently selfish (self interest is an evolutionary adaptation after all), which can sometimes lead to bad behaviors. The human mind also has an unfortunate proclivity for classifying people into categories, making it all too easy to create "them" vs "us" scenarios.

You should become a politician.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: ducci
I'm more curious about people's feelings about the instinctive qualities of man - the "nature" part of the nature vs. nurture. The part that we ultimately don't have any control over.

I do believe there are genetic factors that can help shape the way a person is. I can easily look at my family and point out different attitude characteristics that I received from my mother or father and some poor traits that my father had and his father had that I'm now stuck with. Damn you genetics :|.

But you know... sometimes I sit around wondering what other people think in certain situations. What physical aspects do other people feel that are different than my own? Have I ascertained poorly in regard to physical stimuli over what someone else thought in the same situation?

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: ducci

Originally posted by: Aikouka
It seems you're completely ignoring the "nature vs nurture" debate with this question and declaring "nature" as the definitive answer. I've come to believe that it's truly a mix of a both and that there are traits we gain that can define us in certain ways.

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Neither. It's more the combination of people's genes, upbringing, and social interactions. All of those things combined are what will make a person "good" or "bad".

KT

I'm not necessarily ignoring external factors affecting a person's "goodness". It's just not what I'm particularly interested in.

I'm more curious about people's feelings about the instinctive qualities of man - the "nature" part of the nature vs. nurture. The part that we ultimately don't have any control over.

For example, one could argue that people are inherently "bad" - and a "good" upbringing merely does a better job at suppressing the "bad".

Or you can say that people are inherently "good" - and a "bad" upbringing or negative events in a person's life leads them to be "bad".

I know the good/bad is silly, but it's Monday morning and I don't feel like working and I'm always a fan of pseudo-intellectual talk on ridiculous topics.

Well when the argument is presented that way, I guess I would say people are inherently good and will be good, in general, as long as it is still in their best interests to do so.

The badness in most people really just seems to stem from slefishness and we are all selfish to varying degrees, no matter how much we expound otherwise.

That makes sense in my head, hopefully it transaltes across the interweb.

KT

 

[JulesMaximus]

I believe people are inherently selfish, sometimes this leads to good behavior and sometimes it leads to bad. I really don't think people are inherently good or bad, just that they sometimes make bad decisions that might take them down the wrong road.

Then there are some people who have had such a fucked up life that they just don't give a shit about anybody or anything.

 

[lokiju]

I like to think good but I think the reality is people become what their environment is for the most part with some exceptions.

They're more of a blank slate that is then molded and formed over the years into who they become based off of their environment.

 

[desy]

I agree with Champ
People are inheritently selfish
However they derive pleasure or what they 'need' can have good or bad consequence

Ex some people get a sense of worth volunteering for charity, others might get the same from being insulting or bringing down others to elevate theirs.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I believe people are inherently selfish, sometimes this leads to good behavior and sometimes it leads to bad. I really don't think people are inherently good or bad, just that they sometimes make bad decisions that might take them down the wrong road.

Then there are some people who have had such a fucked up life that they just don't give a shit about anybody or anything.

i think the type of people who are inherently good are those who do the right thing when it comes down to it. they are the people who will help their fellow man when he is down or even when he isn't down just to be helpful. they have morals. they have a good conscience guiding them.

 

[Aikouka]

I'm inherently naughty :evil:!

 

[chorb]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
Good or bad, I have no idea.
I do believe people are inherently stupid though.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
I'm inherently naughty :evil:!

win :laugh:

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I believe people are inherently selfish, sometimes this leads to good behavior and sometimes it leads to bad. I really don't think people are inherently good or bad, just that they sometimes make bad decisions that might take them down the wrong road.

Then there are some people who have had such a fucked up life that they just don't give a shit about anybody or anything.

i think the type of people who are inherently good are those who do the right thing when it comes down to it. they are the people who will help their fellow man when he is down. they have morals. they have a good conscience guiding them.

Yes, but I could argue they are still acting selfishly as they are helping people out just so they do not feel guilt.

I have done "good" things in the past because I knew if I didn't I would feel bad about it for a long time afterwards. Therefore I did not really think of it as a "good" act, but more of a selfish one.

KT

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I believe people are inherently selfish, sometimes this leads to good behavior and sometimes it leads to bad. I really don't think people are inherently good or bad, just that they sometimes make bad decisions that might take them down the wrong road.

Then there are some people who have had such a fucked up life that they just don't give a shit about anybody or anything.

i think the type of people who are inherently good are those who do the right thing when it comes down to it. they are the people who will help their fellow man when he is down. they have morals. they have a good conscience guiding them.

Yes, but I could argue they are still acting selfishly as they are helping people out just so they do not feel guilt.

i edited my post after you quoted me to say helping them out when they are down or when they aren't down just to be helpful. i enjoy lending a helping hand. i don't see how that is selfish of me or that it alleviates guilt. a lot of helping out is voluntary. you can choose how much you want to get involved.

I have done "good" things in the past because I knew if I didn't I would feel bad about it for a long time afterwards. Therefore I did not really think of it as a "good" act, but more of a selfish one.

KT

It's still good. If you were a bad person you wouldn't even feel guilt for not helping out.

 

[drum]

People are selfish and want to do what will benefit themselves.
People also will take the path of lease resistance to accomplish this

 

[edro]

Humans and most mammals are genetically programmed "Good".
Otherwise, infant mortality would prevent us from being a successful species.

 

[hans030390]

Inherently stupid.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: edro
Humans and most mammals are genetically programmed "Good".
Otherwise, infant mortality would prevent us from being a successful species.

How is being "good" or "bad" related to infant mortality rates?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I believe people are inherently selfish, sometimes this leads to good behavior and sometimes it leads to bad. I really don't think people are inherently good or bad, just that they sometimes make bad decisions that might take them down the wrong road.

Then there are some people who have had such a fucked up life that they just don't give a shit about anybody or anything.

i think the type of people who are inherently good are those who do the right thing when it comes down to it. they are the people who will help their fellow man when he is down. they have morals. they have a good conscience guiding them.

Yes, but I could argue they are still acting selfishly as they are helping people out just so they do not feel guilt.

I have done "good" things in the past because I knew if I didn't I would feel bad about it for a long time afterwards. Therefore I did not really think of it as a "good" act, but more of a selfish one.

KT

Exactly. I believe that being selfish, is in general bad for society/humanity.

Earlier you asked for an example of how even if somebody does something "good", that doesn't mean it's "good" for our species. For example, you are walking down the road and see a homless person begging for money. People do one of two things, either ignore him (which is the "bad" thing so to speak) or give him money (the "good" thing so to speak). I'd argue that both of these are not really "good", and are in fact a negative effect on society. I believe we can both agree that ignoring them and continue walking is a "bad" thing, so I will skip it. If you give the homeless person money that is actually a "bad" thing for society for a few reasons.

First off, it doesn't change anything. The old "give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime" type deal. Secondly, if you really wanted to help the homeless person, then you should take them to your home and feed/clothe them. So, why don't people do this? Well, we can't assume that homeless person won't try to kill us in our sleep/rob us/etc (which shows that we are generally "bad" as a species). Third, assuming you can't do #2 then I would then argue that money would be better spent giving to an orginaztion that is designed to help the homeless get off the street. Finally, if #2 and #3 were too "good" or too much then I would argue that if you really wanted to help a homeless person, you would give them your clothes/car/etc that you had with you at the time. The homeless person would benefit more from the clothes you're wearing than from $10.

So, in the above example you only give the homeless person money (assuming you did obviously) to make yourself feel like you did something and give the appearance you are a "good" person. Giving them money doesn't better society as a whole, and hurts it because it doesn't change the situation at all for the better. Because of this, I believe that even when humans act in a "good" way it isn't always "good" for society. This doesn't mean that it is "bad", or that some things people do that are "good" are never beneficial to society.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I believe people are inherently selfish, sometimes this leads to good behavior and sometimes it leads to bad. I really don't think people are inherently good or bad, just that they sometimes make bad decisions that might take them down the wrong road.

Then there are some people who have had such a fucked up life that they just don't give a shit about anybody or anything.

i think the type of people who are inherently good are those who do the right thing when it comes down to it. they are the people who will help their fellow man when he is down. they have morals. they have a good conscience guiding them.

Yes, but I could argue they are still acting selfishly as they are helping people out just so they do not feel guilt.

i edited my post after you quoted me to say helping them out when they are down or when they aren't down just to be helpful. i enjoy lending a helping hand. i don't see how that is selfish of me or that it alleviates guilt. a lot of helping out is voluntary. you can choose how much you want to get involved.

I have done "good" things in the past because I knew if I didn't I would feel bad about it for a long time afterwards. Therefore I did not really think of it as a "good" act, but more of a selfish one.

KT

It's still good. If you were a bad person you wouldn't even feel guilt for not helping out.

This thread is about humanity and our species overall (if I understood it correctly), and if humanity as a whole is generally "good" or generally "bad".

Under that context, I would say in general our species is "bad". That doesn't mean we never help out our fellow man, but from a nature (not nurture) standpoint people generally do the "bad" thing for society. People definitely help out, and do "good" things all the time without a doubt. Unfortunately, I believe that humanity is generally "bad".

If you believe we are "good", then how come you wouldn't let a random stranger stay in your home? Because you can't trust that they are "good". If you could, we would be able to let anybody in our home. Would a "bad" person sometimes be allowed in and do "bad" things? Yes, but we would believe that our fellow man was "good" and allow them into our home without question IMO.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: drum
People are selfish and want to do what will benefit themselves.
People also will take the path of lease resistance to accomplish this

Does that make them "bad" or "good" because of that?

I agree with you, and believe that because of this it makes us "bad".