Do you think people are naturally inclined to be good at their core, or do you see human nature as leaning more towards selfishness and competitiveness?

I think you’re right that we’re a mix of things.  Most of us have selfish moments, but we also have kind moments.  I sometimes wish we were more peaceable and kind than we are, but I think that in the big picture of things, we’ll always be a mix.  I sometimes characterize this by saying that we are “too much chimp, not enough bonobo”.  Like other primates, we have a general disposition that varies across, and even within, individuals.  Chimpanzees are more aggressive than Bonobos, I like to think of us as somewhere between them.

Thinking of it this way reminds me that at a large scale humanity has a nature, just as other species do.  But that nature need not wholly determine out individual actions.

I am a student. 

All people are born without any personality or trait, so for one to be born good at their core isn’t something we can scientifically state, but I think people are inclined to lean more toward selfishness and competitiveness, only if they strive for it. Life is all about striving to be and do better for yourself and against others. I say the self naturally leans toward selfishness just as history shows with the monarchy system, slaves and masters, high class or low class, etc. As life continues to advance so do the privileges which can incline to selfishness and arrogance, which then will create a toxic society. Alongside my opinion that human nature leans more towards selfishness, this is also an environment-learned trait that is very much needed by a wide range of people to become successful in life or ahead of the rest. People always want the best for themselves and because of that fact, it is horrible that most people find themselves having to tap into that selfishness and competition of human nature, and the fact that if you’re a naturally nice person you won’t get any farther in life. 

@someone19 

The relationship between our environment and who we become as individuals is a complex and multifaceted one. It’s true that all people are born without a predetermined personality or set of traits, and our environment plays a significant role in shaping who we are. However, the idea that humans are inherently inclined towards selfishness and competitiveness is a subject of ongoing debate in psychology, sociology, and philosophy.

While some argue that selfishness and competitiveness are natural human tendencies, others believe that human nature is more complex and can include elements of cooperation, empathy, and altruism. The nature versus nurture debate continues to be a central topic in these fields.

The impact of one’s environment on their behavior and attitudes cannot be overstated. People are shaped by their families, communities, cultures, and the broader social, economic, and political systems in which they live. These factors can indeed encourage or discourage certain traits and behaviors. For example, growing up in a competitive and individualistic society may lead individuals to prioritize self-interest and competition, while growing up in a more cooperative and community-oriented environment may foster empathy and cooperation.

It’s also worth noting that people are not universally selfish or competitive. Individuals vary widely in their personality traits and behaviors, and some people naturally lean towards kindness, empathy, and cooperation. These traits can be valuable in many aspects of life, including personal relationships, teamwork, and community building.

Iam a student, by definition, human nature includes the core characteristics (feelings, psychology, behaviors) shared by all people. We all have different experiences of the humans in our life, and this is where the disputes begin. Some people will tell you humans are ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or ‘predators’ or ‘capable of great kindness I do believe that human nature is essentially good, and that we could have lived peaceful and happy lives well before the development of anything like the modern state. Personally  I have experienced many areas of kindness with fellow human beings like being given a ride when you least expected  it.

However in my view ,all organisms must compete for a limited number of resources, such as food, shelter, or mating partners. Humans’ tendency to compete may be a natural outgrowth of this biological competition. I am competitive in the sense that I always want to do my best and achieve success. However, I also recognize that success is not always about winning or beating others, but rather about personal growth and learning. I try to focus on my own progress and development, rather than comparing myself to others.

In conclusion ,human beings are a social species that relies on cooperation to survive and thrive. Some decide to be competitive to find a way out .

@namuts12

I agree that human nature is a complex interplay of both competitive and cooperative tendencies. While competition for resources is indeed a natural aspect of our biological heritage, our capacity for kindness and cooperation is equally inherent. Human beings are adaptable, and our behavior can be shaped by various factors, including culture, upbringing, and personal values. Like you, I believe that focusing on personal growth and learning, rather than solely on winning or beating others, is a positive approach. It’s crucial to strike a balance between competition and cooperation, recognizing that both aspects are part of our multifaceted nature as social beings. Ultimately, our ability to choose kindness and cooperation can lead to more harmonious and fulfilling lives.

I am a student and human nature leads towards selfishness and competitiveness over being good and faithful. I do believe people try to be good and put others over themselves within society, but deep down they still have that fire within to be competitive and be better than those around them. Now, being competitive is not a terrible thing in human nature. Competitiveness makes it so we keep striving to be better than those around us, which inertly helps build society up day by day and ensures we keep pushing towards the future. Though selfishness can bring down society as well because people would do anything to take down their competition. This is why society tends to push away selfishness and lean towards being good because it ensures we get along together and makes sure we act civilized. Overall, I do believe human nature leads towards being competitive and selfish. 

I am a student. I believe that everyone is born with a pure heart, but growing up there are an unlimited number of factors that could alter that. Including witnessing traumatic events or experiencing traumatizing circumstances, growing up with limiting parents, or even social media. I believe that social media takes a toll on everyone without even realizing it. You see other people getting famous, or having clothes or materialistic things that you crave, or even just being so envious of the way they look. The way that society is leaning, yes people are becoming more selfish and competitive. More than ever, people are only searching for what’s best for themselves and it is hurting everyone as a community. Less and less people are looking out for each other and even doing the little things, like holding the door for others, and helping people in need. As a whole, society is declining socially, and emotionally. 

I am a student 

Our environment has a deep and multidimensional link with who we become as individuals. The topic of whether individuals are innately virtuous or selfish is a recurrent philosophical and psychological inquiry. From one point of view, there is a belief in intrinsic goodness, which is anchored in the capacity for empathy, cooperation, and compassion. Proponents say that these characteristics developed to promote social cohesiveness and collective well-being. A contrary position contends that self-preservation and competitiveness are more fundamental features of human nature influenced by evolutionary causes.

The reality is most likely a mix of both opinions. Humans display a wide range of behaviors that are impacted by heredity, environment, and societal institutions. Although evolutionary history has instilled some survival instincts, the emergence of complex civilizations has also developed moral thinking and prosocial impulses. Contextual variables, cultural influences, and individual variances all play a role. To summarize, human nature is diverse, reflecting a dynamic interplay between natural inclinations and extrinsic stimuli.

Answer To Question C

“I am a student” studies show that in the first year of our lives, infants tend to exhibit empathy toward others in distress. And at a later stage in life, we work together to reach our goals and help in times of need.

Humans might be fundamentally nice because empathy enables us to feel the emotional pain of someone in need. Alleviating that pain is a reward as it makes both the helper and the recipient feel better. We only figure out how to be helpful when we are a couple of years old as kids. Even as young as 6 months old, we’re able to grasp the idea of behaving in a socially beneficial way. This suggests that even though we learn to help someone when we are young, the sense of relationship with others whether we are close or not makes us behave that way.

As we internalize social norms and morals, we build upon our potentially innate Altruistic urges, and they help shape how ready we may be to help someone and as we grow to become adults it becomes harder for us to value the social connections between ourselves and what society has let us believe might make us less ready to help.

I think that not everyone is born good and not everyone is born bad either. Things like environment, upbringing and personalities all come into play.

I am a student. I do not believe that people are good at their core, but are inclined to satisfy their own self-interest as a primary instinct. It is also my belief that people obey the laws and rules because that is what they are taught. All behavior is learned. Not obeying the laws or following the rules invokes a reverential fear of punishment. That is why most people conform to standards.

In addition, not adhering to established rules for behavior can result in being ostracized from civilized society. People act good to avoid the trouble that results from them not doing so.

Watching very young children play without supervision proves that self-interest comes first. Children will not naturally share a toy, an amusement ride, or an edible treat they may have. Nor will they defer to another in deference to themselves if there isn’t enough. Self rules the day.

I am a student.

I believe the question of whether humans are good or selfish is a bit too broad. Like many animals in the wild, they work together to better their chances at survival, but on the contrary, it is competetive in the wild and animals will do what they have to do in order to survive. I think before we evolved as a species to modern humans we were generally good, we all had important roles that needed to be played and we shared our goods, this just shows how selfless we were through the act of sharing and doing tasks that may not benefit ourselves but the species as a whole. Now in modern society, we aren’t worried about keeping our species alive, only our friends and family, which in some aspect shows that we are still good, but there are many who will pull others down in order to push themselves and those they deem close up. Overall, humans as a species are good, but not completely.

I am a Student. ‘Just over a century later, Jean-Jacques Rousseau countered that human nature is

essentially good, and that we could have lived peaceful and happy lives well before the

development of anything like the modern state. Human nature comprises the fundamental

dispositions and characteristics- including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting – that humans are

said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or what it

‘means’ to be human. Rather than being selfish, humans are actually born kind. We have kindness

genes. The most prominent of these is the gene for oxytocin, a little hormone associated with

reproduction, breast feeding and social behavior. So, that is what humans do. We adapt to our

experiences, both physiologically and in terms of behavior. Human nature thus cannot be said to

be fundamentally altruistic and cooprative, or fundamentally selfish and competitive.

Fundamentally, human nature adapts to survive. Many believe that humans are inherently selfish,

but recent psychological research suggests this is not necessarily the case. University of Michigan

researcher Felix Warneken has spent 17 years studying toddlers, and he’s learned that kids display

altruistic behaviors from a very young age.