Human nature never changes, people never learn from history. It’s been said that human nature is to change, but nothing could be farther from the truth. What held true a thousand years ago for human beings hold true still today. The only thing that has changed is what our society needs in order to survive. As a civilized society we have discovered the great benefits that equality has produced for society overall, despite the temporary damaging effects it may have for the present ruling class. We’ve learned that valuing the freedoms of all men make it more likely for all men to value your personal freedom as well, and because of our rich and prosperous society we no longer need to kill and do wrong to one another in order to survive and therefore we respect the rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. But do not think for a second that we as wealthy Americans have changed from our basic nature, that we have somehow evolved from the cave men we once were to something more pure, more tolerant, and more fundamentally moral; we have not. Take away the comfort and security which a consumer society provides and our notions of freedom and equality, of human rights and ethical behavior, disappear. The one overruling human instinct is self preservation, and all humans at their core will do whatever they deem necessary to survive. Turn off the lights, throw everyone in the dark, introduce the population to a danger it has never encountered, and the “civilized” society of any modern nation falls apart.
Do not have faith in the “goodness” of human nature, do not trust that neighbor across the street will hesitate to harm or even kill you if it meant keeping himself or his loved ones alive. Human beings have not changed; human beings have merely become more wealthy and prosperous which means the old violent ways of the past are no longer practical or to the benefit of society as a whole or the individual in most cases. Few will chose goodness over life, fewer still would recognize Immanuel Kant’s views in a crises, “let justice be done though the heavens may fall.” This is an ideal which holds no practical relevance in a time of crises, and although it is sound moral advice which should be followed, it would not be.
Human beings aren’t naturally good in nature and to believe so is to deceive yourself to the realities of this world; nor are we naturally evil, what we are is opportunistic; we seek to better ourselves and pursue our own self interest whether that be at the expense of others or not. If killing others is to our benefit then we will kill, if marching down the streets of Montgomery being sprayed by water hoses is to our perceived benefit we will do that as well. Not to say that we are incapable of acting beyond our basic nature, but to do so requires a deep philosophical and fundamental belief in the value of human life and the willingness to carry out that belief in the face of total chaos and turmoil. Few have this steadfast moral compass though, and most always revert to our basic human nature when a crisis hits. This, unfortunately, is the reality of the human being.
Do not have faith in the “goodness” of human nature, do not trust that neighbor across the street will hesitate to harm or even kill you if it meant keeping himself or his loved ones alive. Human beings have not changed; human beings have merely become more wealthy and prosperous which means the old violent ways of the past are no longer practical or to the benefit of society as a whole or the individual in most cases. Few will chose goodness over life, fewer still would recognize Immanuel Kant’s views in a crises, “let justice be done though the heavens may fall.” This is an ideal which holds no practical relevance in a time of crises, and although it is sound moral advice which should be followed, it would not be.
Human beings aren’t naturally good in nature and to believe so is to deceive yourself to the realities of this world; nor are we naturally evil, what we are is opportunistic; we seek to better ourselves and pursue our own self interest whether that be at the expense of others or not. If killing others is to our benefit then we will kill, if marching down the streets of Montgomery being sprayed by water hoses is to our perceived benefit we will do that as well. Not to say that we are incapable of acting beyond our basic nature, but to do so requires a deep philosophical and fundamental belief in the value of human life and the willingness to carry out that belief in the face of total chaos and turmoil. Few have this steadfast moral compass though, and most always revert to our basic human nature when a crisis hits. This, unfortunately, is the reality of the human being.
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