It is Human Nature...

[FamoFunk]

Human nature and your own personality. I think it is just human nature to feel and be those things in your life, but your own personality has a lot to do with it, as not everyone is stubborn or selfish etc.

 

[Esotera]

It's human nature to be half-assed, and to ignore evidence if it doesn't immediately make sense. Also it's human nature to imply that correlation must be causation.

 

[Akimoto]

It is human to fail in success, and to succeed in fail.

 

[Durgiun]

It is also in human nature to follow the stupidest and most psychopathic people into our own doom and then blame them damn liberals, conservatives, libertarians, whoever.

 

[Combustion Kevin]

I believe Charlie Chaplin has this one covered...


Seriously, everyone on Earth should watch this video at LEAST 3 times a week.

you sir, earn one internet, and a cookie for reminding me of good ol' charlie.

 

[Logiclul]

Ugh... human nature can't be to be selfless.. read Ayn Rand if you don't understand why.

Human nature is to be selfish (and that is a good thing! selfishness is a virtue, not a sin!).

Humans are biologically engineered to be selfless, at least to a degree. We are rewarded with dopamine when we help another person.

Happy Yay: You are mistaken, so I will explain to you why so that you don't make the same mistake again.

Let us assume that everyone is selfless; let us consider such a world, and how it would function.

Everyone would be aiming to sacrifice their body for another, living in a dull and meaningless existence which exists to serve others, hoping(it isn't a conscious hope since that would be selfish, but we say hope as it is in the persons best interest for the following to happen) that one day, someone else will throw them a bone and sacrifice themselves for him.

That society could never function, so we know that humans are not inherently selfless.

Selfishness is a prerequisite for so many things. One must want to be better themselves. One must want to be happy. We could make a more extensive list, but these two umbrella phrases seem to be efficient, would you not agree?

 

[Robert Ewing]

I think human nature is purely subjective tbh.

 

[Combustion Kevin]

Let us assume that everyone is selfless; let us consider such a world, and how it would function.

Everyone would be aiming to sacrifice their body for another, living in a dull and meaningless existence which exists to serve others, hoping(it isn't a conscious hope since that would be selfish, but we say hope as it is in the persons best interest for the following to happen) that one day, someone else will throw them a bone and sacrifice themselves for him.

That society could never function, so we know that humans are not inherently selfless.

Selfishness is a prerequisite for so many things. One must want to be better themselves. One must want to be happy. We could make a more extensive list, but these two umbrella phrases seem to be efficient, would you not agree?

well, of course it wouldn't work if everyone was absolutely selfless, just like it would'nt work if everybody was absolutely selfish, extremes are a bad thing and make poor examples.

 

[Logiclul]

Let us assume that everyone is selfless; let us consider such a world, and how it would function.

Everyone would be aiming to sacrifice their body for another, living in a dull and meaningless existence which exists to serve others, hoping(it isn't a conscious hope since that would be selfish, but we say hope as it is in the persons best interest for the following to happen) that one day, someone else will throw them a bone and sacrifice themselves for him.

That society could never function, so we know that humans are not inherently selfless.

Selfishness is a prerequisite for so many things. One must want to be better themselves. One must want to be happy. We could make a more extensive list, but these two umbrella phrases seem to be efficient, would you not agree?

well, of course it wouldn't work if everyone was absolutely selfless, just like it would'nt work if everybody was absolutely selfish, extremes are a bad thing and make poor examples.

Well when you have centuries of history showing that selfishness is the constant in all great legacies, all average tales, and all pathetic stories, you can say that selfishness is human nature.

Extremes don't inherently make bad examples, but that isn't worth arguing as my point stands, and I'm sure that Happy Yay will be convinced.

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

Ugh... human nature can't be to be selfless.. read Ayn Rand if you don't understand why.

Human nature is to be selfish (and that is a good thing! selfishness is a virtue, not a sin!).

Humans are biologically engineered to be selfless, at least to a degree. We are rewarded with dopamine when we help another person.

Happy Yay: You are mistaken, so I will explain to you why so that you don't make the same mistake again.

Let us assume that everyone is selfless; let us consider such a world, and how it would function.

Everyone would be aiming to sacrifice their body for another, living in a dull and meaningless existence which exists to serve others, hoping(it isn't a conscious hope since that would be selfish, but we say hope as it is in the persons best interest for the following to happen) that one day, someone else will throw them a bone and sacrifice themselves for him.

That society could never function, so we know that humans are not inherently selfless.

Selfishness is a prerequisite for so many things. One must want to be better themselves. One must want to be happy. We could make a more extensive list, but these two umbrella phrases seem to be efficient, would you not agree?

You are just as mistaken if you think that pure individualism is how society has advanced. You are also mistaken to presume that we are not hard wired to be selfless sometimes. As the other person who quoted you said, extremes are generally a bad thing. Humanity is not entirely selfish, nor is it entirely selfless, nor should it be either one.

Edit: scratch the part where I implied Happy Yay may be incorrect.

 

[Orks da best]

ok didn't expect this thread to go as far as it did... woohoo?


I wonder when I put up a simple topic (last was what if our unvirse was huge compared to another and small to another.) tThey turn into like friendly debate over the topic... eh shrug.

 

[SiskoBlue]

Can't help but feel that when people say "all behaviour is selfish and that's a good thing" that it's just that individual assuaging their guilt.

Here's one good fact and one sad fact;
Most people are good-natured and kind. We're not saints but nearly everyone of us works with other people and are polite to them. We make friends. We hold the door open for people. Most people have done charity or given to charity at some point. We buy each christmas presents, not just because we have to, or because we're thinking about what we get in return. Most of us will never violently attack another person in our entire lives. Most of us don't like to lie, and usually only do it to protect people's feelings. None of things things can be argued as purely selfless but they're not the acts of evil, selfish psychopaths either. We have empathy.

In fact violent crime is down almost all over the world. We haven't had a major war in over 50 years. Every year we find better and better ways to improve both our health and our lifestyles. Despite what cynics think in many, many ways the world is actually getting better all the time.

The sad fact: Nice isn't interesting. At least not as interesting as death, murder, war, crime and disaster. It's human nature to pay attention to warnings. Humans are the most adaptable creature on earth and our greatest skill is paying attention and learning from others mistakes. So we're geared to be more interested in death, murder, war, crime and disaster.

So guess what the media shows us both in News and entertainment. The only thing humans are more interested in is sex. And strangely that's the one thing media often clamps down on but people watch the most? I'm including anything 'romantic' is fascinating to our human nature as it's key to our sexual desires.

So the way I see it. Humans are actually pretty good but if you ask the media they'll always say "it's terrible". As a consequence I only take in the barest minimum of news.

 

[rutger5000]

I had strong opinions about this matter, but then I watched the Charly Chapling video and read comments about the ego. Now I am simply not sure anymore.
I get angry at people sometimes, and even have wished misfortune to some people. But I don't think that the hurt of others would ever brought or will bring me happinness. And the Chapling video (great God, that's one powerfull speech) I don't think humanity needs to hate. And I don't think we need selfishness either.
There are many things in the bilbe that I do not agree with, many things that cause me to reject the idea of a benevolant God. But there are two lines that cause me not to reject the bible itself: Love others as you love yourself and: So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

[Guffe]

It's human nature to play videogames, watch movies, read books and work out
Also eat and drink...

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

I believe Charlie Chaplin has this one covered...


Seriously, everyone on Earth should watch this video at LEAST 3 times a week.

Thank you for putting that out into the world another time. It needs to happen. This makes me sure we can do better. Accepting that stuff is crap and just doing nothing is lazy, selfish and the opposite of what it means to be human. "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield" is what makes humanity. The dogged determination. That somewhere, over there, things can be better. Hope, and above that, the means and motivations to make our hopes real is what i think makes human nature.

Cynics live in a dark and depressing world. And i pity them. I really do. The way this man said it was best.

Can't help but feel that when people say "all behaviour is selfish and that's a good thing" that it's just that individual assuaging their guilt.

Here's one good fact and one sad fact;
Most people are good-natured and kind. We're not saints but nearly everyone of us works with other people and are polite to them. We make friends. We hold the door open for people. Most people have done charity or given to charity at some point. We buy each christmas presents, not just because we have to, or because we're thinking about what we get in return. Most of us will never violently attack another person in our entire lives. Most of us don't like to lie, and usually only do it to protect people's feelings. None of things things can be argued as purely selfless but they're not the acts of evil, selfish psychopaths either. We have empathy.

In fact violent crime is down almost all over the world. We haven't had a major war in over 50 years. Every year we find better and better ways to improve both our health and our lifestyles. Despite what cynics think in many, many ways the world is actually getting better all the time.

So the way I see it. Humans are actually pretty good but if you ask the media they'll always say "it's terrible". As a consequence I only take in the barest minimum of news.

Empathy is to be human. Ive had two people today, two claim COMPLETE lack of empathy for other human beings to seem trendy, grimdark and cool. It saddens me that to be a monsterous being is now apparently eviable. Without empathy you cant have love, or compassion or generosity. Things that make life worth living. What sad existences these people must apparently live.

If you ever think the world is a dark place, take a look at this.

http://immd.icanhascheezburger.com/

As long as everything on here exists the world is never as bad as everyone says it is.

 

[Kolby Jack]

Humans have the capacity for empathy, which is the driving force behind morality, while humans who have diminished or absent senses of empathy are considered repulsive. As far as I see it, empathy IS human nature. Everything else is old rules we picked up from the animal kingdom.

To feel empathy is to be human. Without it, you become nothing but an animal.

Empathy is to be human. Ive had two people today, two claim COMPLETE lack of empathy for other human beings to seem trendy, grimdark and cool. It saddens me that to be a monsterous being is now apparently eviable. Without empathy you cant have love, or compassion or generosity. Things that make life worth living. What sad existences these people must apparently live.

Well well, seems I've been ninja'd. Ah well, I'm just glad others think this way.

 

[Jake0fTrades]

It is human nature to try to rationalize human nature.

 

[Happy Yay]

Ugh... human nature can't be to be selfless.. read Ayn Rand if you don't understand why.

Human nature is to be selfish (and that is a good thing! selfishness is a virtue, not a sin!).

Humans are biologically engineered to be selfless, at least to a degree. We are rewarded with dopamine when we help another person.

Happy Yay: You are mistaken, so I will explain to you why so that you don't make the same mistake again.

Let us assume that everyone is selfless; let us consider such a world, and how it would function.

Everyone would be aiming to sacrifice their body for another, living in a dull and meaningless existence which exists to serve others, hoping(it isn't a conscious hope since that would be selfish, but we say hope as it is in the persons best interest for the following to happen) that one day, someone else will throw them a bone and sacrifice themselves for him.

That society could never function, so we know that humans are not inherently selfless.

Selfishness is a prerequisite for so many things. One must want to be better themselves. One must want to be happy. We could make a more extensive list, but these two umbrella phrases seem to be efficient, would you not agree?

That is silly and you know it.

There are just as many holes in an entirely selfish society. For example, if all of humanity 30,000 years ago suddenly became fully selfish, humans would go extinct in a single generation. There is no purely selfish incentive to raise and support children; for the first 8-odd years of a human's life, it is essentially a deadweight. Thus, as the modern incentive of "someone to take care of us in our old age" will not apply because people will die of sickness and the like around age 20-30, there is no longer any incentive to support children and the species would die.

I believe this is what is called a strawman argument. You have accurately stated that a fully selfless society would collapse, however you have failed to refute my point.

Let us also use your logic in other scenarios. I enjoy spicy food. Thus, I must enjoy a theoretically infinite amount of spice; if possible, I would consume blocks of pure capsaicin at every opportunity.

Your argument is very similar. As I am stating that humanity is not inherently fully selfish, you assume that I am stating that humanity is fully selfless. This is flawed.

 

[him over there]

Actually what you put as human nature I would argue is conditioning morals that have become prerequisite after thousands of years of shifting societies and progress. Human nature is really eat, poop, mate, parent, die.

 

[Eggbert]

Dark philosopher are we? Well you can alter your mindset if you try, try with a hop, skip and a jump, do do do. Ah these saccharine inducing ponies

I was going to make a smartass comment about keeping it on deviantart, but this was much funnier.


... well played.