Are Humans Naturally Bad or Good Philosophy Essay Sample

For years, the question of whether humans are good or evil has baffled philosophers and humanitarians all across the globe. There have been studies, research, and even experiments on this topic, but there is no clear answer. The philosopher Mencius once said, "All men have a mind which cannot bear to see the sufferings of others" (Martin and Srudler). This quote conveys the controversial, yet probable, answer that humans are good. While someone could argue that humans are morally wrong, I believe that because of our sense of morality and our ability to foresee the consequences of our actions, we are truly good inside.

First of all, when humans are born, we are born with a sense of morality, knowing the difference between good and evil. We, then, would not choose to do an evil act over a good one. One will not commit an evil action without a motive to commit such a wrongful deed. We are aware of the consequences and repercussions our actions could cause, and would only be pushed towards them with some sort of rationale. For example, my late great-grandfather was the sweetest and kindest person that I knew. However, when my great-grandfather heard that my grandfather had cheated on my grandmother, he got into a physical fight with my grandfather. It was eventually revealed that this was false information and a complete misunderstanding. While nobody was seriously harmed, my grandfather never talked to my great-grandfather ever again. For the rest of his life, my great-grandfather felt awful about what he did. This manifests the idea that a truly good person would never perform evil acts, unless provoked to. I believe that nobody in this world is truly evil. Yes, we have performed immoral acts, but does that grant us the title of being fully evil? Deep down, in everyone, good morality lies. It may be more visible to some, but it is there for everyone if they choose to use it.

In addition, I think everyone is born good, but it is the world and people around us that influence our goodness. The world throws scenarios and curveballs at humans every day, and there is no escape. It is a cruel world filled with jealousy, selfishness, envy, and manipulation. These situations do affect us morally, building our character and personalities. It is how we choose to deal with these scenarios that defines how truly moral you are. Some get captured by evil, but still have the intent to do what's right. Even if you have voices all around you telling you that you are an evil person. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, it is stated, "‘Maybe, Simon said hesitantly, maybe there is a beast’" (...) "‘What I mean is, maybe it's only us’" (80). This quote suggests that all humans are evil, and there is no way to diminish that. The novel depicts humans as having no way to escape savagery and that it will eventually get the best of us. I disagree with this comment because, personally, I think that ‘the beast’ is our emotions getting the best of us. As I stated above, humanity is not perfect and does make mistakes. However, we gain understanding and learn from our mistakes, which helps us to become better people.

In conclusion, I believe that while humans contribute to evil actions, we are morally righteous and hold our principles close to our hearts. We always have the intent to do what’s right, even if we allow it to escape from us from time to time. Our morality is what keeps us this way and will continue until the end of time.