Your opinion, are people inherently good?

LadyEmeraude

LadyEmeraude

You may call me EM 😊
I had about a twenty minute chat with three people about this topic earlier today.
It came up over a quick cup of coffee, I had to leave but am mostly glad I did. Then
the additional topic of, are people inherently evil arose also. Is evil inherited or learned
by people? It was becoming a very intense visit, but still three hours later it is on my
mind some. So after I think on it a bit more I will post my thoughts..

Anything about this topic OR related to it is up for discussion..
 

I think that there are both, and I also think that we mostly gravitate to people who are similar to us. We have all heard that old story about the person who was moving and asked someone what the people in the new town were like. The person was answered with a question, about what were the people like where you moved from.
Whatever the person answered, the person who was asked replied that they would find the same kind of people in the new town.
So, if we thought people were generally friendly in the old town, we would find friendly people in the new town, and vice versa.

Overall, I believe that most people are kind and good. I find it interesting that in this day of severe political animosity, I believe that both parties want what they believe is best for America, even though they hold totally different political beliefs about how that might come about.
 
So, if humans are capable of both good and evil, what determines which one they will choose? It will be argued that it is our upbringing/environment that shape our moral compass/ethics. Others believe that it is a matter of free will, and that we humans have the power to choose between good and evil.
 
jpstrap said:
I replied NO because "good" was not defined. Good in the everyday sense obviously is not a trait in everyone. Just witness the grotesque anti-human behaviors being displayed worldwide on a daily basis.
Click to expand...
@jpstrap, your point makes sense.

Yes, defining 'good' is important.

Let's define it and add this to the thread.
 
LadyEmeraude said:
So, if humans are capable of both good and evil, what determines which one they will choose? It will be argued that it is our upbringing/environment that shape our moral compass/ethics. Others believe that it is a matter of free will, and that we humans have the power to choose between good and evil.
Click to expand...
If we are inherently good, would we possess the ability to choose Evil? Doesn't make a lot of sense.
 
I would add that because the great majority of people strike me as essentially good people, that does not mean goodness is somehow an inherent characteristic of their make-up.
 
All people are born innocent.
How a child is raised makes a huge impact
If they are loved and nurtured during their growing stages, they have a better chance of becoming a well adjusted adult. If not, they may have issues.

People also can inherit genetic flaws; both mentally and physically that may have an impact on their life.

People might not have the best place to live or the perfect parents . They might not be treated well by others but they DO have free will to choose how to react.
 
This question has been asked by our species for very long time. :) No one has a definitive answer. Is it a fact? Is it even a noun? Is bad a noun? What color is it? How big is it? Anyone who believes they have the answer to this question, can not prove it one way or the other. No court of justice, no council of wise elders, or any sign from on high is going to give us an answer. Why do we need an answer? That is the more interesting question.

If we can't answer the question what is it about the question that makes it so interesting? Because it is an unsolved mystery! Interesting enough to run for 12 seasons! :)

MV5BNmQ4YzhiMjktOTU0Ni00ZDU4LTk1ZDMtOGQzODcwYTU3NmNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxODQ4MDg@._V1_.jpg

Hobbes vs Rousseau: are we inherently evil?​

 
I think people are selfish, myself included.

For some a life of good deeds makes them feel fulfilled and they like that.

For others a life of dirty deeds makes them feel superior and they like that.

Given a choice I'd like to think most would choose to do or be good.
 
Abs
PeppermintPatty said:
All people are born innocent.
How a child is raised makes a huge impact
If they are loved and nurtured during their growing stages, they have a better chance of becoming a well adjusted adult. If not, they may have issues.

People also can inherit genetic flaws; both mentally and physically that may have an impact on their life.

People might not have the best place to live or the perfect parents . They might not be treated well by others but they DO have free will to choose how to react.
Click to expand...
Absolutely correct. So if that person chooses Evil that person is not inherently good.
 
I think it is a spectrum, most people aren't entirely good or entirely evil, we are all a mixture. Then our circumstances, upbringing etc influence that.

But I think most people are mostly good and if you look for the positive you see it, if you look for the negative you see that.
you also get reflected back what you put out - if you behave positively to others you get more positivity back and vice versa.
 
Imagine caging up a group of humans in a zoo like environ for the first 20 yrs of their life - either all male or all female or mixed and then ask ourselves - how much ""goodness" would we observe and how much "non-goodness" in terms of human traits??
 
January said:
I think it is a spectrum, most people aren't entirely good or entirely evil, we are all a mixture. Then our circumstances, upbringing etc influence that.

But I think most people are mostly good and if you look for the positive you see it, if you look for the negative you see that.
you also get reflected back what you put out - if you behave positively to others you get more positivity back and vice versa.
Click to expand...
Brilliantly stated, and so true. BINGO!
davey said:
Imagine caging up a group of humans in a zoo like environ for the first 20 yrs of their life - either all male or all female or mixed and then ask ourselves - how much ""goodness" would we observe and how much "non-goodness" in terms of human traits??
Click to expand...
Exactly. Good example.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top