Okay, so we talked about this in history class a while back and it always keeps coming back to me, in the back of my head. This idea keeps nagging me in different situations I find myself in and I have to let it out. First, a definition from Wikipedia:
The human condition encompasses all of the experience of being human. As mortal entities, there are a series of biologically determined events that are common to most human lives, and some that are inevitable for all. The ongoing way in which humans react to or cope with these events is the human condition. However, understanding the precise nature and scope of what is meant by the human condition is itself a philosophical problem.
On the first day of history class this year, my teacher started by asking us what we thought the human condition was. Well, no. He really asked us what the nature of the human condition is, basically if humans are naturally “good” or “bad.” And that idea has been bugging me ever since.
Evidence that the nature of mankind is bad can be seen in war, torture, greed, and selfishness. However, evidence of the good in mankind can be seen in small day-to-day things, like sharing food, giving to charity, even just doing someone a favor that doesn’t directly benefit you. So the question is: Which are we? Are we naturally good or bad?
You may now be asking why it has to be one or the other. The idea is that one of these, either the basic good traits or the basic “bad” traits of humans is a result of the type of society they live in, and the other is what it means to be human without society. This is important because if we understand the human condition, we can make a better society and therefore live better lives.
Communism is one type of society, and it assumes that people will want to work for the better good and will trust each other. But virtually all attempts at it have failed. Capitalism encourages greed and selfishness. But it seems to work. That would imply that we are naturally “bad.” But at the same time, wouldn’t a friend of yours do something for your just because you’re friends? Doesn’t that mean that we’re also good and don’t just care about ourselves?
I’m not really sure what I think. Feel free to post what you think in the comments!
