Society as the Cause of Evil - Thesis Example

Introduction Human nature has been an age-old issue, debated by the most intelligent and perceptive theorists of the various eras. However, three of the widely known social theorists who deconstructed human nature are Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Hannah Arendt. Each of them has distinct conceptions of evil, but one apparent similarity: human beings become evil because of societal forces. Whether born with a righteous heart or an evil nature is less significant than the fact that human nature is influenced by the society. This paper discusses the arguments of these three theorists about human nature and illustrates them by analyzing the characters of Beowulf and Grendel in Beowulf and Eve in Paradise Lost. Thomas Hobbes: Man is Naturally Evil The theory of Thomas Hobbes (2011) is rooted in the idea of ‘individualism’, or, particularly, that society can “only be explained in terms of the individuals comprising it” (chap 13, para 8). As a result, Hobbes argued that human beings are all self-centered and focused only on their own self-protection or preservation instinct even if it meant to the detriment of others. This would lead to conflict, and in the end into a ‘state of war’. Hobbes’s theory is founded on the premise of psychological egoism (Lara 2001), in which the impetus for all human behaviors is gain for oneself. Hobbes’s argument points to society’s endorsement of competition which motivates individuals to show their worth and outshine others. But this competition becomes ugly due to individuals’ inherent selfishness. For example, Beowulf is portrayed as a self-centered individual. Using his exceptional talents and strength, he desires to prove to the world his bravery, power, and virtuosity. This endeavor of his is to prove to his potential rivals that nobody can surpass him. The inherent egoistic nature of Beowulf has been reinforced by his society’s love for a hero. By displaying his special abilities he already secured his place in the society. Similarly, Grendel, portrayed as a monster, is inherently evil. But this wicked nature acts as a defense mechanism to society’s rejection of him. For Grendel, everybody is his enemy. His instincts driven by self-preservation are the roots of all his evil deeds, and this, apparently, is brought about by society’s veneration of beauty and strength. In a similar way, Eve was able to commit a sin because of her overflowing love for herself; she is narcissistic. Her self-centeredness lured her to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Because of too much devotion to society’s (symbolized by Satan here) value for beauty, Eve was easily tempted to violate God’s rules. Or, perhaps, God’s rules, just like societal norms, hampered Eve’s ‘individuality’ by making her inferior to Adam, which then motivated Eve to break free from these rules, protecting her own identity. Generally, Hobbes (2011) has a quite pessimistic analysis of human nature, in a sense that in the absence of a ‘supreme ruler’ to regulate human beings’ desires and ‘individualities’ they will live in a continuous ‘state of war’. Beowulf, besides being a protagonist, also eventually represents a ‘supreme ruler’ who tried to quell the brutishness of his own subjects by showing them that he has realized his past wrongs and just wanted to be a righteous in the end. Grendel’s desire to be recognized by his father Hrothgar and the society he belonged in was subdued by Beowulf by putting an end to Grendel’s brutality. Likewise, Eve’s ultimate fall to immorality was still regulated by God’s rules outside the Paradise. These rules remain to be the ones which control our actions today and constantly remind us to choose the righteous path. Without these absolute controls, or, in the words of Hobbes, ‘absolute sovereign’, such destructive individual desires will uncontrollably run aground. Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Man is Naturally Good The theory of Rousseau (2007) contradicted that of Hobbes for he views human nature as basically good. It is the society that changes the ‘natural man’ into the self-centered brute described by Hobbes. The ‘state of nature’ for Rousseau (2007) is much more than merely an exclusion of government, but an elimination of cultural baggage such as language, value system, and an understanding of one’s self. Within this context Rousseau (2007) argued that compassion is the only emotion that stays behind in human nature; that human beings are introverted, and have no yearning for prestige or power for there would be no one to exercise such power. Hence, the perception of Rousseau of human nature is quite optimistic in comparison with that of Hobbes, and individuals’ evil deeds are the outcome of dealings with the larger society. Rousseau’s view of human nature echoes John Locke’s concept of ‘tabula rasa’, which means ‘clean slate’. According to Locke, an infant mind is a total, but open, clean slate upon which external and internal experiences implant knowledge (Lara 2001). But experiences with the larger society heavily mark this ‘tabula rasa’, thus, deeply influencing one’s behavior. Beowulf, even though portrayed as self-centered, is born a nobleman. He tried to live with this image because his original imprint was composed of experiences of being part of a noble ancestry. In spite of his bravery and birthright, he has never been acknowledged as a champion in his society. Because of his society’s disregard for his value as a warrior Beowulf was forced to prove to everybody that he was worthy of their attention and respect, even at the expense of others. Overflowing with self-possession and a desire to prove his worth, Beowulf bids to kill Grendel. Beowulf’s pursuit did not only bring tragedy upon him but to all the people involved in his selfish goals. On the other hand, even though Grendel is portrayed as an evil monster there is a part of him that longs to belong in a community. He at times shows spiritual and moral senses. But because of his physical appearance and Hrothgar’s pompous display of his triumphs, Grendel became envious, forcing him to commit the most dreadful atrocities. Likewise, although Eve is depicted as a sinner, she still possesses some innate righteousness in her, such as being contented of her place in the paradise. Consequently, she failed to acquire more knowledge. Suggestive of Rousseau’s argument, Eve thinks that being intelligent is useless because she is alone in the world, and that Adam is the one who has the right to this wisdom. This positioning of women in society forces some to rebel or get easily tempted to commit sins. Hannah Arendt: The Banality of Evil In her theory ‘banality of evil’ Arendt does not imply that the evil committed by people, such as the Nazis, was unimportant, but argues that evil is not perpetrated entirely by brutal monster scheming evil goals (Kateb 2007). Evil deeds can take place through severe selfishness and unkindness by individuals who are not predominantly evil in the beginning. Specifically, Arendt believed that a perpetrator of evil deeds does not have the capacity to think for him/herself and take part in any scrupulous questioning of the society (Yar 2005). Arendt argued that too much altruism or compliance to society’s code of conduct may encourage evil actions. At times, because of selfless obedience to one’s moral duty, the boundary between good and evil becomes blurred. But even though Arendt puts some blame on the society for human errors she believed that individuals should be responsible for their actions (Yar 2005). Beowulf is a perfect example of a man who was transformed by societal pressures. Being a descendant of great warriors, Beowulf has been expected to follow his ancestors’ footsteps. A sane and decent man at first, he became careless and unruly, who swims for a week to fulfill a ridiculous bet. But he eventually accepts that it was his superficial pride that forced him to perpetrate violence against other people. Grendel, similarly, is transformed from a rational monster to a violent one by society’s cruelty. Certainly, except for Grendel’s hideous looks and disgusting eating habits, really few traits in fact differentiates him from human beings. Even his severe viciousness is not one of a kind. In Paradise Lost, the fall of mankind is enclosed in eventuality; there is an impression of hope and free will that engulfs Eve after the sin nearly as much as prior to it. Nevertheless, Satan (society) dwells in a domain of condemnation, where free choice is deceptive and all their deeds function only to aggravate their ruin. Conclusions Even though the theories of Hobbes, Rousseau, and Arendt have their weaknesses, it is apparent that Rousseau has formed a naïve and impractical ‘state of nature’. Hobbes’ and Arendt’s sadistic and capably contemptuous ‘state of nature’ and their view of human nature in general is hence much more reasonable and realistic. The brutal nature of Hobbes’ and Arendt’s theories is even apparent in the characters of Beowulf, Grendel, and Eve. Therefore, in a moral, political, and personal sense, society’s social order is far from mending. While Heaven breaks free from worldly dynamics of society by rebirth and renewal, Hell is resistant to similar dynamics by being in a condition of permanent decomposition. References Required Readings Eliot, Charles. The Complete Poems of John Milton. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909. Hobbes, Thomas. “The Leviathan” (accessed 13 December 2011): http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/hobbes/leviathan-contents.html Irving, Edward Jr. Rereading Beowulf. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. “What is the Origin of Inequality Among Men, And Is It Authorized by Natural Law?” Constitution Society (2007): http://www.constitution.org/jjr/ineq.htm Yar, Majid. “Hannah Arendt (1906-1975)” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2005): http://www.iep.utm.edu/arendt/#H6 Supplementary Readings Kateb, George. “Existential Values in Arendt’s Treatment of Evil and Morality” Social Research 74.3 (2007): 811+ Lara, Maria. Rethinking Evil: Contemporary Perspectives. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2001. Read More