Personal Theory of Human Nature - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Human Nature The present paper aims to articulate personal theory of human nature in the light of the perspective have already been presented by the religious faiths as well as by psychologists-theorists. One of the most significant reasons behind elaborating the theory of human nature in this paper includes the elucidation of diverse viewpoints on the above-described topic on the one side, and presentation of personal critical opinion about the aspects associated with human nature. The study has been supported with the Islamic perspectives on human nature, while the theories of human nature by Lombroso and Marx have also been selected for the present study. The researcher has established the premise that human nature serves as the amalgamation of the features of goodness and evil, which overcome each other on the foundation of various resistible and irresistible circumstances, and hence lead to the development of human nature. The term human nature simply refers to the features and characteristics attributed to human perception, thought, feelings, emotions and sentiments; all of which are reflected in the actions, reactions and behavior of the individuals while entering into interaction with their social, natural and physical environment at large. Such patterns of behavior not only influence their individual life, but also leaves indelible imprints on the collective life of the members of society and culture one belongs to. Consequently, the social norms and cultural values mirror the traits and characteristics observed by human nature. Psychologists, theorists and researchers have always been interested in exploring the human nature and the foundations on which it appears to be erecting (Liebert & Spiegler 6). Some of them view human nature to be the mixture of the qualities man inherits from both of the parents, on which the individual does not maintain any control altogether; on the other hand, some of the theorists strongly declare the physical surroundings and social environment to be responsible for all the activities man is involved into. Hence, proper education and adequate training can introduce imperative alterations in human personality, where a deviant could be taught the manners of leading a law-abiding and sophisticated life. Consequently, nature-nurture debate has always been the moot point for the scholars, philosophers, intellectuals and religious leaders for centuries. While discussing Islamic perception with regards to human nature, it becomes evident that Islam lays stress upon both nature and nurture, though nurture enjoys superior status in Islamic ideology. The Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him) has stated: “Every child is born in the (true) nature of faith; and it is up to the discretion of parents (or guardians) of the child, to which (spiritual) path they drive their child” (Sahih Muslim, Book 033, Number 6426). In simple terms, Islamic teachings emphasize upon good learning, education and mannerism to be taught to the children, so that they can turn out to be noble and law-abiding citizens on growing young. The logic behind the very claim is this that since Almighty Allah is the Creator and Benefactor of the entire universe, He has created each and everything on the principle of goodness. It is therefore every child is born with the mind tantamount to the clean slate, on which society writes the words of its choice, resulting in the formation of the child’s personality. Consequently, the personality development is significantly reliant on the environment, in which man has been brought up, and has experienced socialization process. Hence, Allport asserts, it is society that turns the biological being into social one through socialization method (Barkhuus 4-5). Thus, identical with its predecessor Abrahamic religions, including Judaism and Christianity, Islam also advocates the innocence and chastity of human soul, which could be corrupted by the child’s entering into interaction with corrupt and evil social groups and stratum. Since Judaism and Christianity also regard the child as the symbol of angelic innocence, the religious people prefer to lead the life of monk and nun in order to escape the corruption existing in human societies in general. Renowned English poet William Blake, in his Songs of Innocence, has also argued in favor of the same notion that man’s experiences with society ruin his natural innocence (Daiches 371). Consequently, the Abrahamic faiths, on the basis of their righteousness and integrity, refuse to declare a human to be corrupt by birth. 15th century philosopher Pico has also endorses the notion that Almighty God has created the universe out of His benevolence and mercy; since human nature is the product of Nature, it is profoundly pure and uncorrupt one in all ways. Human nature is polluted by the evil existing in societies, though the truthfulness and virtuousness is the ultimate goal of human soul. Somehow, some of the philosophers and intellectuals differ from the very notion, and view innate human traits to be responsible for all the steps and actions taken by the individuals during the course of their life; the name of Cesare Lombroso. Late 19th century Italian biologist-psychologist Lombroso emphatically declares human traits and acts to be entirely innate ones in nature, which seldom seek any influence from the socio-cultural establishment one belongs to. On the contrary, the entire human nature serves as the combination of the traits, which entirely relies upon genes or inheritance. Based on the in-depth investigation into the physical features of criminals and non-criminals, Lombroso’s study reaches the conclusion that the criminal and deviant members of society are born with some distinguished physical features, which are significantly different from law-abiding individuals (Ellenwood 716-7). While elaborating his theory of crimes, Lombroso maintains that despite the very reality that the education and training may have some influence on the humans; nevertheless the biological traits tend to play dominant role throughout man’s life, and force the humans to act in some specific manner, instead of imitating the instructions they have been given during the course of obtaining education and training both in formal and informal ways. In other terms, the schooling, church-attending and other formal and informal training experiences do not leave any solid or strong impacts upon the human personality. Marxist perspective has also attempted to present its viewpoint about human nature Attributed to distinguished 19th century socialist-theorist Karl Marx, Marxist perspective regards human nature as the manifestation of the basic human desires, where every effort made by humans maintains some economic reasoning behind it (Turner 127). In simple words, Marxist perspective ascertains that the human needs and desires play decisive role in the development of nature and personality formation as well due to the very reality that all human struggles revolve around the fulfillment of their needs in any manner. Since execution of human desires is entirely dependent of wealth and financial resources, striving for obtaining power, pelf and possession serves as one of the most dominant aspects of human nature. It is a fact beyond suspicion that basic human desires are almost one and the same, the apparent variations to be found in human nature on the basis of their activities and behaviors actually reflect and signify the amount of wealth and other financial assets they contain. It is therefore, all humans long for enjoying themselves with maximum possible facilities and comforts available within their social environment. Somehow, since all members of society cannot be in the position of attaining the comforts and luxuries on equal basis, few of them lead comparatively more luxurious life in comparison with rest of the individuals. As a result, there starts struggle and conflict between the individuals possessing these comforts, and those, which are deprived of the same, i.e. haves and haves-not respectively, in the words of Marxism (Macionis 103). Such a perturbed state of affairs leads to class struggle between the classes with the aim of laying the foundation of a just and classless society. Consequently, the strife and struggle observed by the members of every social establishment mirror one of the most distinguished traits of human nature, i.e. having passion for and making efforts to obtain everything that is necessary for the fulfillment of human needs. History is replete with countless examples of exploitations made by the social classes, groups and nations, with the aim of earning superior and dominant position in comparison with their fellow-beings, where both fair and cruel as well as just and iniquitous measures have been observed by the people and societies, for the attainment of influential status in society (Zaidi 2009). Consequently, having access to maximum possible pleasures life offers to man could be stated to be one of the most powerful aspects of human nature, which has frequently resulted into serious clashes and conflicts between the groups, communities and strata existing in the same society (Turner 133). In the light of the above discussion, the researcher has reached the conclusion that a child enters the world as an innocent being, which is certainly influenced by the norms, values, mores, taboos, customs, conventions and traits existing in the society where he is going to be brought up and socialized. The favorable and unfavorable circumstances also have their role in turning the humans to be pious or wicked, as well as law-abiding and law-breaking. Taking the example of the German dictator Adolf Hitler, it becomes evident that Hitler belonged to a law-abiding family, and had led a peaceful life. The Nazi leader was determined to embark upon his career as an artist; somehow, the humiliating terms and sanctions imposed by the Allies on the vanquished Germany forced Hitler to set his motherland free from the clutches of disgrace and ruination (Moorhouse 16-7). Out of sheer feelings of revenge, Hitler chose the path that was sure to lead him to destruction eventually. However, sometimes man inherits the negative traits from his parents, including prejudice and hatred against the members belonging to one’s rival ethnic, racial, religious and regional groups and communities, which compel him to lead the life of a rebel, criminal and offender throughout. Nevertheless, such feelings and emotions are also learned behavior, where it is man’s ethno-racial or religious group that infuses the sentiments of prejudice in his mind and heart; and man turns out revengeful and narrow-minded by justifying even his most unjust views, thoughts and actions eventually. Works Cited Barkhuus, Louise. ‘Allport’s Theory of Traits–A Critical Review of the Theory and Two Studies.’ Concordia University 1999 1-18. Web. Daiches, David. A Critical History of English Literature. Ronald Press Co., University of California. 2007. Print. Ellenwood, Charles A. Lombroso’s Theory of Crime. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 2 Issue 5 Article 6 1912 1-9 Web. Liebert, Rober M. & Spiegler, Michael D. Personality: Strategies & Issues Sixth Edition California Cole Publishing Company 1990. Print. Macionis, John J. Sociology Eleventh Edition New York: Pearson Prentice Hall Inc. 2008. Print. Moorhouse, Roger. Killing Hitler: The Third Reich and the plots to kill the Fuhrer. London: Vintage Books 2006. Print. Pico, Della Mirandola. ‘From Oration on the Dignity of Man.’ Web. Turner, Jonathan F. The Structure of Sociological Theory. Ontario: The Dorsey Press. 1978. Print. Zaidi, Mujtaba Haider. Vae Victis. The Frontier Post Daily Newspaper March 20, 2009. Web. Sahih Sahih Muslim, Book 033, Number 6426 Web. Read More