Human Nature Animal Nature - 2452 Words

The Oxford Dictionary defines human nature as, â€Å"The general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans† (Human Nature). Throughout various great literary works, human nature is portrayed in many positive and negative ways. As humans, we have evolved to rely on one another; no man is an island, and one’s actions affect society around him/her in one way or another. Human nature is seen today as either altruistic or egotistical, depending on the individual’s perspective. However, there is no way of determining whether the natural tendency of humans is to do good or to do bad. Even with all of the progress made throughout the evolution of humankind, our understanding of human nature as a whole has remained unchanged in its definition. Each individual has his or her own morals and beliefs, which together make up his or her own human nature. Each human has his or her own, unique natural tendencies and morals. Though this makes us all different from one another, it also makes us more alike because of this uniqueness. Through their unique traits and ideals, the characters from Gilgamesh, The Aeneid, Hamlet, and Freedom Writers all exemplify the best and the worst in human nature, and manage to meet somewhere in the middle of this modern understanding of human nature. The question concerning the goodness or badness of humans has perplexed people for centuries, and frankly, cannot be answered. The idea that humans mayShow MoreRelatedHumans, Animals, And Nature2341 Words   |  10 PagesPY 4647: Humans, Animals, and Nature (Ben Sachs) Thom Almeida (110003776) Word count: 2,216 Introduction Modern technological advances in animal farming coupled with a greater desire for food production have led to increased suffering of animals to suit our own interests. Bernard Rollin has argued that unless this trend is discontinued, which he deems unlikely to happen, genetic engineering of animals is a morally preferable option compared to not intervening at all in order to ameliorate the frustrationRead MoreAnimal Farm : Human Nature in Animals823 Words   |  4 PagesHuman nature in animals. Was this really shown in George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’? In fact, there were several messages about human nature reflected in ’Animal Farm’. The messages that were expressed through many different characters and their behaviours, gave an insight into human nature, and showed many characteristics of it. The idea of equality â€Å"all animals are equal† and socialism would make an ideal society. It would be effective on Animal Farm if it were not for the pigs’ hunger for powerRead MoreAnimal Farm And Human Nature1051 Words   |  5 PagesCorrupted by Human Nature The paradigms and principles you have created shape your view of the world. The knowledge you have accumulated throughout your life contributes to your attitude towards life. Do you believe human kind is inherently selfish? In the novel Animal Farm, George Orwell speculates the evil of human nature. Allow me to unfold for you the influence of human nature before the revolution on Manor Farm and the short term and long-term results of the revolution. Animals were treatedRead MoreHumans Are Social Animals By Nature1680 Words   |  7 PagesHumans are social animals by nature. There is an ever-present urge to assimilate into society for personal gain or comfort regardless of a person’s place of birth. Through personal observations, in both the Western and Eastern cultures, the region an individual is raised in does not definitively matter when it concerns physical insecurities or how someone goes about remodeling themselves. Some go about change through adapting their dietary habits and fitness regimes to achieve their ideal body, butRead MoreThe Human Nature Of Animal Border1508 Words   |  7 PagesThe human-animal border is something people have been fascinated with for years. Humans are taught at a younger at that there is supposed to be a separation between humans and animals, but as the years have gone on this border has started to dissipate. Humans now relate to animals more than ever before. Kids idolize them becau se of the movies and television shows, and adults turn to animals in times of great need. Animals have become more like humans which poses the question: does this border evenRead MoreContemporary Civilizations : An Essential Part Of An Individual s Highest Level Of Achievement1461 Words   |  6 Pagesconcerning the kinds of communities ... that human beings construct for themselves† (Contemporary Civilizations Home Page). While analyzing the types of communities different texts discuss, we have come across the conversation relating an individual’s inner nature and his (or her) external circumstances. Up to the point of Teresa de Cartagena’s texts, writers argue that an individual’s highest level of achievement is primarily influenced by their internal nature and only secondarily reinforced by externalRead MoreAristotle Vs Human Nature Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe term nature signifies a set of characteristic that distinguishes humans, as a species , from all other beings (Wiles). A set of characteristics distinctive of a species is known as the Greek term, Phusis. According to both Plato and Aristotle, human nature is unchanging. On the contrary, Sarte has a different belief on the topic of essence that do not accord with classical philosophical tradition. Human souls are characterized by their capacity to reason. This capacity exists, perhaps in varyingRead More Gullivers Travels Essay1312 Words   |  6 Pagescontemporaries didnamp;#8217;t realize it, is to ridicule his government, his rulers, and human nature as a whole. His generalization of the human condition doesnamp;#8217;t manifest itself completely until Part IV of the book, where the main character, Lemuel Gulliver, finds himself on an island inhabited by two main species amp;#8211; the Houyhnhnms, horse-like animals, and the Yahoos, human-like animals. The difference between this island and reality as we know it is the fact that the HouyhnhnmsRead MoreHuman Beings Possess A Distinct Consciousness895 Words   |  4 PagesFeuerbach first says that since human beings have religion and animals don’t, there must be something that human beings possess that essentially differentiates them from animals. Human beings possess a distinctive consciousness which he calls  "species consciousness† that animals don’t possess. In other words, a man that possesses a â€Å"species-consciousness† he is capable to take its own essential nature as an object of thought. In addition, the human individual has the capacity of thought which meansRead MoreAristotle s View Of Politics Essay1454 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstand the concept and reasoning behind his writings of The politics as a whole. This essay intends to discuss Aristotle s view of politics through the way in which he layers the fundamental concept of hierarchy of humans and natural societies to show that man by nature works for the common good. I will also discuss the conflicting views between the works of both Aristotle and Hobbes in order to grasp a greater understanding of the foundations which has shaped the politics of today. Aristotle