INTRODUCTION TO INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

Modern NovelModern Novel

5 Essential Questions5 Essential Questions

1.1. What will make humans happy?What will make humans happy?

2.2. Are human beings essentially good or Are human beings essentially good or evil? (benevolent or selfish?)evil? (benevolent or selfish?)

3.3. Are human beings responsible for their Are human beings responsible for their actions?actions?

4.4. How do we determine right from How do we determine right from wrong?wrong?

5.5. How should we live? (universal How should we live? (universal principles)principles)

Question #2Question #2

Are human beings essentially Are human beings essentially good or evil? (benevolent or good or evil? (benevolent or

selfish?)selfish?)

Born good or evil?Born good or evil?

QW: Good or Evil?QW: Good or Evil?

What do you think? What do you think? Is there such a thing as human Is there such a thing as human

nature? nature? Are people born good? Evil? Neither? Are people born good? Evil? Neither?

Both?Both? Give examples or tell a story to Give examples or tell a story to

support your response.support your response.

React to each statement…React to each statement… Human beings are born evil—totally self-Human beings are born evil—totally self-

centered, prone to violence, devoid of centered, prone to violence, devoid of human sympathy.human sympathy.

Even in acts of apparent kindness, humans Even in acts of apparent kindness, humans are basically responding to their own selfish are basically responding to their own selfish needs.needs.

People who give to charity do so for some People who give to charity do so for some selfish motive (tax write-off, recognition, selfish motive (tax write-off, recognition, feel good, etc.)feel good, etc.)

If there were no laws, human society would If there were no laws, human society would resemble an animal state—brutal and nasty resemble an animal state—brutal and nasty with survival of fittest reigning supreme.with survival of fittest reigning supreme.

Egoism vs AltruismEgoism vs AltruismThomas Hobbes vs JeanThomas Hobbes vs Jean

RousseauRousseau

EGOISMEGOISM

““It’s all about me!”It’s all about me!” Ego = selfEgo = self Each person is only concerned about Each person is only concerned about

herself, her happiness, her survivalherself, her happiness, her survival We act ONLY out of self interestWe act ONLY out of self interest

EGOISMEGOISM

We are BORN selfish/self-interestedWe are BORN selfish/self-interested– evilevil

Laws are the only thing that keep our Laws are the only thing that keep our behavior in check behavior in check – for the good/protection of othersfor the good/protection of others

ALTRUISMALTRUISM

We are born GOODWe are born GOOD We are naturally concerned about We are naturally concerned about

othersothers Society corrupts us, makes us Society corrupts us, makes us

evil/selfishevil/selfish Don’t need laws—we have an Don’t need laws—we have an

inherent concern for the good of inherent concern for the good of others (society)others (society)

““Tabula Rasa”Tabula Rasa”

Perhaps humans are Perhaps humans are not born either not born either good or evil. good or evil.

They start out as a They start out as a blank slate and blank slate and over time become over time become more one way or more one way or the other.the other.

Tabula Rasa: definitionTabula Rasa: definition

No built-in knowledge/contentNo built-in knowledge/content We learn everything from experienceWe learn everything from experience Favors the “nurture” side of the Favors the “nurture” side of the

nature v. nature argumentnature v. nature argument DETERMINISMDETERMINISM

Tabula Rasa: historyTabula Rasa: history

Appeared as early Appeared as early as Aristotle, Stoicsas Aristotle, Stoics

St. Thomas St. Thomas Aquinas brought it Aquinas brought it backback

Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud continued continued experimentingexperimenting

John LockeJohn Locke

Tabula Rasa: opponentsTabula Rasa: opponents

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies– Golding’s view of Golding’s view of

man without lawsman without laws EugenicsEugenics

– Isolating genes to Isolating genes to explain/predict explain/predict behaviorbehavior

Thomas Hobbes!Thomas Hobbes!– EgoismEgoism

WRAP-UPWRAP-UP

Are human beings born essentially Are human beings born essentially good or evil?good or evil?

Cite examples from your Cite examples from your experiences, books you’ve read, experiences, books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, etc.movies you’ve seen, etc.

How might religion tie into this?How might religion tie into this? Connect this to the characters from Connect this to the characters from

East of Eden…East of Eden…