Human Nature, a Concept of Fundamental Dispositions and Characteristics - Essay Example

Introduction Man’s nature, as told in historical events and contemporary events, remains the same. Man is basically neither good nor bad but acts under the guidance of his instinct and intellect in a given situation. Cultural contexts and social mores only serve to robe or accentuate his innate behavior that is laid bare in difficult circumstances that come unannounced. Similarities in human traits can be traced in incidents separated through huge gap in time and territory like that of Athens- Melos battle in 410 B.C. and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, in 2006, through Hoestefede’s cultural analysis. Thesis Statement Wars cloak the conquerors’ imperfections but an adversity manmade or natural, thrust upon a people, brings forth true colors of mankind, good and bad, in an equal measure. Catastrophes are natural or manmade. Violence is unleashed as long as people believe they are stronger than others but a nature made tragedy comes announced and wreaks havoc indiscriminately on great and small. The conquerors script their war histories painting themselves in glorious hues but on closer introspection, we find the human traits same in the winner and the loser. Good and bad, folly and wisdom are integral to human nature. Human nature remains unique little affected little distances in times or territories. An individual always seeks the easier way out of a tragedy, like water flows to any direction, as long as it is from higher to a lower surface (M, 32). Time has little effect on man’s natural state but tide matters a lot. All men are equal but the circumstances they are caught in make the difference (M, 34). The intellectual faculty allows man to twist facts. Politicians and their spokesmen can wield the pen or roll the tongue to paint the greatest of weaknesses as objects of glory or the other way round, depending upon the situation they are in. The conquerors and the mighty try to hide their weaknesses as long as they can. These imperfections disguised and rendered impervious to criticism through autocratic rule, along with a spate of wrong decisions lead to the downfall of Athens, (EQ, 1). In case the rule of law ceases and anarchy of takes over. Tragedies are manicured, grief diminished, voice of reason throttled, and even the will of Gods is manipulated to justify misconduct towards fellow men and women more appealing, more acceptable to those who stand witness to it and those to follow. Athenians absolve themselves of their sins by attributing it to law of man and Gods that predates them (EQ, 22) It is amply perceptible in Melians Conference, that Athens is bent upon calling war on Melos. The war is unleashed on Melians on the negotiating table itself. Athenians talk with a superhuman, decisive and resolute approach in their approach while Melians have a wavering, practical and more human approach of wriggling out of a situation that is being thrust upon them. Doublespeak and flitting between fight and surrender are all reflective of a human mind at work. Melos is ultimately driven to cul-de-sac in the negotiations. For Melians choice is between freedom and subjugation and for Athenians it is that of more and more empire. Athenians indulge in despicable acts of subjugating a territory, killing its male citizens selling females and children. The behavior of Athenians is comparable, to those Americans in New Orleans, who make the maximum of opportunity and indulge in looting stores and taking away more than they need (Williams). More similarities meet the eye in the two events. Man remains smitten by a strong sense to possess. The Athenians find an urge to possess the next frontier collectively, as besieged individuals in New Orleans men are ready to kill for another extra loaf or an extra pair of shoes (Williams). Anarchy prevails in New Orleans till the Cavalry takes over (Williams). Man is pitted against man. It is the loss of reason. For “only by thinking is gotten the right view of things.” (Mencius, 35). The Melians the vanquished in the war are like those wheel chair ridden people in New Orleans (William), who are helpless to accept but death. The inglorious acts are extolled by Periceles calling them deeds of glory that would earn the fallen Athenians fallen in battles as the noblest of shrines after death and to have the earth for their tomb (EQ, 12).Perciles rightly concludes his funeral day speech as act well accomplished in deference to the law ( EQ, 13) Hofestede cited in Lusting and Koester provides some cultural reference points to study commonalities of human behaviour of Athenians in the historic, and that of Americans in the contemporary event. Human behavior tucked under cultural veils remains the same. . Comparative studies of four indexes of the US and Greece Hostefede’s analysis prove our findings. In case of Athenians, the out-group members issue the diktats and the in-group obeys (Lusting and Koester, 137). The collective view of the out-group is held out as the majority view, and is forced upon the in-group. The views of the out-group are to be agreed with without questions and arguments. Hostefede too puts an extremely low count on individualism, -37 for Greece collectivism-individualism ratings (Lusting and Koester, 138). . But social hierarchical distinctions are less obvious in today’s US than that of Athens in the past. No one can question the prudence of the rulers in Athens to wage war. On the other hand, even a natural tragedy leaves a lot to be answered by the Mayor of New Orleans, and the President of US (Williams) even though they had little control over the unfolding events. Battle honors, elaborate funeral ceremonies of the dead staging of rituals and reveal a high level of uncertainty avoidance index amongst the Athens. New Orleans on the other hand is a scene of rabid wrangling, blame game, and disorderliness along with the call for a nation wide on issues as race, class, and environment presents a picture in contrast. Quite understandably the Greece has 191 points much higher to that of the US. (Lusting and Koester, 121). Similarly, in autocratic manner of functioning of Athens of past and the skepticism of the public and media expressed over government’s role in firefighting measures surrounding Hurricane Katrina are examples of high and low power distance index. Power Distance Index also stands from freedom of social hierarchies. People free from social hierarchies suffer and enjoy in equal measure. In New Orleans it is the colored who are suffering. (Williams). Understandably, the US fares quite low on Power Distance Index Rating at -90 and that of Greece is comparatively higher at 2 (Lusting and Koester, 124) . Trumpeting jingoism, extolling the virtues of male heroes, description of women as begetters of male heroes, widows of heroes, represents high Masculinity-Femininity Index (MAS, 128). Despite the aftermath of the hurricane, display of ostentatious manliness, wielding guns in looting and yet strong belief in the American national ideals make MAS more than that of Greece. Greece has 38 points and the US 67 points on MAS Index and both have a mediocre position on the index. (Lusting and Koester, 127) Conclusion The nature of man set forth in the Athens-Melos battle and in New Orleans tragedy carries the same shades. In the former a nation is set against nation and in the latter people against their own people as they come to grips with a hurricane. The laws of the land, in the measure, they are strictly enforced make a semblance of uniformity in human behaviour. Chroniclers, commentators and historians as in case of Pericles, try to twist and present reality with ‘all is well with us’ and ‘we are the most superior kind’ like statements and posterity has no more of an account of the incidents of the past than what is presented in a text or in scripted in an audio visual film. The weak and the vanquished rarely get the opportunity to say their part of the story. On closer scrutiny the shades of similarities are easily made out. Man remains smitten with an innate sense to possess more and more. Man’s malevolence unbridled in no less than of a beast and his benevolence comparable to that of angels. They are two constants he has always lived with. Works Cited Lustig, M. W., Koester, J., Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communications across Cultures, Custom Edition for Baldwin Wallace College B. Rolleston (ed) Enduring Questions: For an Intercultural World, Berea, OH: Baldwin-Wallace, Baldwin Wallace College Mencius, Selected Excerpts from Works of Mencius, Baldwin Wallace College Williams, Brian (2006): We Were Witnesses, NBC, Nightly News Trascript Read More