Opinion on Nature vs Nurture - Essay Example

My opinion about Nature versus Nurture is simple. To understand its true interpretation and to arrive at the correct answer is impossible. No two leaves, fruits or flowers of a tree are alike. Nothing is similar in this world and everything and everyone lives with the difference and even though in all such differences, an essential harmony runs through and in this Creation and everything is mutually connected. Gene versus environmental studies is the subject which is more of understanding than analysis. As such what an individual is due to one’s genetic make-up and how much past experiences, cultural influences, family interactions etc. are ingrained in one’s personality, is impossible to measure with precision. Conciliation in this area is better than confrontation as nothing tangible is going to come out of such rigid postures by arguments and counterarguments of the scientists and researchers. These are the questions that cannot be answered by mind-level philosophers meaning, psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists. Their efforts, though laudable will be in vain as they will never be able to find an acceptable answer. One thing is certain: Genes influence the functions of an individual’s neurobiological systems and biological mediators which in turn control the behavior and thought processes. In psychological research, the play of genetics is noticeable. The answer to the question of nature versus nurture is not simple; rather it is a complicated mixture of both heredity and environment.

The tussle between nature and nurture has been going on since time immemorial. Just because more and more knowledge is gained on the subject, no one should think that we are nearing a perfect solution to understanding the working of nature versus nurture. But the details gathered do help in getting at the psychological remedies for personality disorders. But again a word of caution! As the scientific community thinks that they are getting closer and closer they are finding new things about the genes and human behavior. Vironika Tugaleva writes in her book The Love Mindset, “Day after day, more and more medications are prescribed for depression and addiction, assuming that these things run in our blood when they run in our patterns of awareness”. Thus the debate continues.

Philosophy talks about changing the personality of an individual, where necessary, by changing the thought processes. Philosophers claim, when the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed; when the mind is changed the man is changed; when the man is changed the society is changed. Such a healthy society will impact future generations for the better. Well said, but the changing process varies again between two individuals and the time required for such a possible change will also vary. This position also gives rise to many complicated issues with remote or no chances of a perfect solution. For example, what all aspects of one’s personality, what all negative traits can be changed through the process of reformation and rehabilitation? There could be thousand motives for a murderer to commit a murder and no two murderers hail from the same set of circumstances and their personality traits are different. So, the procedure to reform them has also got to be different. It is impossible to reform some of the hardcore prisoners. So also the criminals cannot get away with the plea that they grew up in a bad environment, their childhood was problematic etc.  So, a common yardstick for the nature versus nurture issue is difficult to arrive at.

To be frank, though the scientists may not agree with this observation, the practical understanding of nature versus conflict is not in knowing the genetics nor does it depend totally on environmental conditions. The solution is elsewhere. It is possible to understand this aspect through the practical knowledge of spirituality and the theory of karma. Spirituality is the science of sciences. Science may not accept this now. But scientists must realise that they are only conducting research and not the original search. They are looking out for what is already there, and they cannot create anything that does not exist. Read More