Human Nature Is Good, And Being A Beast - 1165 Words

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, and the author of Leviathan. Hobbes declared that human life was â€Å"solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short†(Hobbes, 107). Hobbes felt that the natural state of man was beast-like, and savage. Thus, he felt that it is civilization that influences and challenges humanity from our fundamental wickedness. Within his view, human nature is dangerous; which can only be rescued through culture and community. According to Hobbes, being â€Å"civilized† is good, and being a â€Å"beast† is not accepted. Contrast this with the view of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau was an Enlightenment philosopher, and wrote The Social Contract which heavily influenced the French Revolution: â€Å"Man is born free, and yet we see him everywhere in chains†(Rousseau, 5). He declared that humans in previous times were â€Å"noble savages†. That humans are ultimately naturally good, and it is â€Å"civilization† that turns hu man-kind into a savage beast. Thus, Rousseau argued that present-day humans should seek to restore the natural conditions in which they were created to live a more natural life. Both theorists argue the origins of power, each with their own arguments. To begin with, Hobbes’ and Rousseau’s views differ from each other in terms of the natural origin and state of mankind. Hobbes’ theory is largely based on the idea of â€Å"individualism†: that society can be explained by examining the individuals who form it. Consequently, Hobbes claimed that all humans are ultimatelyShow MoreRelatedInner Evil in Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay620 Words   |  3 Pagesthey fear more than the beast. The beast is not a tangible object that can be killed or destroyed by conventional means, but an idea symbolizing the primal savage instincts within all people. Its Golding’s intention to illustrate the innate evil inside man through his view of human nature, the actions of the Jack and his tribe, and the relationship between the beast and the school boys. Golding wanted to reveal to the reader his point of view and theory of human nature. He wanted to make it clearRead MoreGood And Evil In Lord Of The Flies Analysis1207 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom within and that the struggle to maintain civilization depends on the ethical nature of each individual.† - â€Å"Background† Throughout the Lord of the Flies, readers learn that people, including children, are not made of pure goodness. Deep inside there is an evil element consistently trying to rise to the surface of their minds. Golding proves that eventually the evil within the children will destroy them and the good around them. This is also proven in two other pieces of literature; one piece talkingRead MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies1119 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is human nature? How does William Golding use it in such a simple story of English boys to precisely illustrate how truly destructive humans can be? Golding was in World War Two, he saw how destructive hu mans can be first hand, and how ‘normal’ people can turn into savages. In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Golding uses the theme of human nature to show how easily society can fall, and how self-destructive human nature is towards itself. Throughout the story there are recurringRead MoreHuman Nature In Lord Of The Flies Essay1230 Words   |  5 PagesHuman nature is the â€Å"general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind†. Between the Book, Lord of the flies and The Crucible, human nature is strongly portrayed through similar characters such as Simon and Mary Warren, Satan/Devil and the Beast, and Jack and Abigail. Simon and Mary Warren both share their wise and kind traits and being bringers of truth, while Satan/Devil and the Beast share the characteristic of exotic and the unknown, both are also able to bringRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding962 Words   |  4 PagesDecember, 2015 In William Golding s Lord of the Flies, Golding uses the theme of human nature to show how easily society can collapse, and how self-destructive human nature is. Throughout the story Golding conveys a theme of how obscured and horrible human nature can lead us to be. Many different parts of human nature can all lead to the destruction of society. A few of the concepts of basic human nature that Golding included in the book are destruction, and panic. These emotions can all contributeRead MoreEssay on Machiavellis The Prince: Politics, War, and Human Nature1334 Words   |  6 PagesMachiavellis The Prince: Politics, War, and Human Nature [I]t is necessary for a prince to know well how to use the beast and the man. (Machiavelli, The Prince, p. 69[1]). In this swift blow, Niccolà ² Machiavelli seems to strike down many visions of morality put up on pedestals by thinkers before his time. He doesnt turn to God or to some sort of common good for his political morality. Instead, he turns to the individual?more specifically, self-preservation in a position ofRead MoreWilliam Goldings Lord of the Flies Essay1255 Words   |  6 PagesThe Beast that Kills Slowly Savagery is the condition of being primitive, uncivilized or the quality of being fierce or cruel (Google). It is something that comes easy to everyone at certain times in our life. People will learn it is harder to be good than bad. Being bad comes natural to everyone; people like the thrill of taking a chance. People are trained to be civil and polite from the time one grows up and it is not that hard because of the society everyone lives in. What would happen if theRead MoreLord of the Flies1669 Words   |  7 Pagessecond most votes is named Jack and he is the main antagonist of Lord of the | |Flies. Jack leads a group of choir boys. After Ralph becomes leader he designates Jack and the choir boys to be the hunters in | |order to pacify them. For the time being Ralph and Jack have a friendly relationship. | | | |The second protagonist ofRead MoreComparison of Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau Essay1092 Words   |  5 Pages Human nature and its relevance in determining behaviors, predictions, and conclusions has caused dispute among philosophers throughout the ages. Political philosophy with its emphasis on government legitimacy, justice, laws, and rights guided the works of the 17th and 18th century philosophical writings of Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Through Thomas Hobbes world-renowned publication Leviathan and Rousseau’s discourses on basic political principals and concepts, each man validated theirRead MoreBeyond Human Nature : Lord Of The Flies1231 Words   |  5 Pages Trang Ha Period 5 10/19/15 Beyond Human Nature â€Å"Life is scientific, that’s what it is. In a year of two when the war’s over they’ll be traveling to Mars and back. I know there isn’t no beast, not with claws and all that, I mean but I know there isn’t no fear, either. Unless we get frightened of people.† (84). Lord of the Flies is a novel where civilization is involved and it was found surrounded by a group of little boys under-aged teenagers who try to govern themselves