Are We Born Evil?

[Robinia]

I've been having a debate with a friend who believes that humans are all born evil and (most) are taught to be good. If that's so, why then didn't the human race all wipe each other out way back at the beginning? Wondered what you thought.

[woofgang]

I think that we are certainly born "animal" and have to learn to share, to take turns, not steal, not hit, etcet. That to me suggests ignorance rather than wickedness. I do believe that a small minority are unable to learn these things. Sadly these days, a growing proportion do not appear to have been taught.

[FP]

I tend to think that the other way round would be nearer the truth! - ie. born good and taught evil.

[dinsdale]

This is an interesting point. I guess we are born as we are born with our instincts, for example we never need to be taught to protect what we have, thats an instinct as is mating, other wise we weould not be here now. we are taught moral values by society in general, via parents, teachers (the police if you are naughty) and through the interaction with others. We learn from an early age that violence is not acceptable (yet we all had the odd punch up in the school playground). I think we are born with instincts that society tries to subdue, this is a constant battle, some people are too "instintive" and generaly end up in prison.

[amarillis]

We are all born imperfect, so we can never start off being totally 'good'. We learn behaviours from the influences around us as we grow up. The human race has been doing a pretty good job of trying to wipe each other out over the centuries though.

[FP]

Why are we imperfect when we are born? I believe we have inherited character traits but nothing 'bad'. I can't conceive that that we are born 'evil'. It is surely the influences around us that teach us 'evil'.

[zgma]

From a personal rather than a theoretical perspective, I think we're born good, and taught bad habits. I don't think we ever become evil (with a very few exeptions). It's clear to me that, for instance, my son was not born evil. He's always been a good person. Maybe as he grows up people will hurt him and he will develop some ways of coping that are less than useful, and these may be hurtful to other people.

[zgma]

*exceptions* I meant.

[ali_alic]

I agree with Wolfgang - we are certainly born "animal" or certainly with a defree of neanderthol in us. Education and civilisation gives us thought that can over-ride instinct. This shows up the more we drink - we act more on instinct then, after all, having worked in nightclubs for more years than I care to remember, we all dread a night where the ratio is 3 guys to 1 girl - as there are sure to be loads of fights kicking off as the predatory male comes to the fore.

[Robinia]

Thanks for all your answers. As someone who tries to see the best in most people I would love to think that we are born good. However I do see that there has to be some animal instinct to survive & that's not always good but unlike my friend I don't think we are naturally 'evil'. As dinsdale says it's when instincts become extreme that there's trouble.

[dorset 1954]

I don't think I've ever come across anyone I could describe as "wholly good" or "wholly evil" (though I believe Nicholas van Hoogstraten comes close to the latter. Babies are born wholly selfish and gradually gain empathy and compassion for others (to a greater or lesser degree).

[Cetti]

That must mean your friend believes that all babies are evil noddy? I will never ever believe that. Can you imagine the horror of carrying something evil inside you for nine months - it doesn't bear thinking about, does it? My personal belief is that we are born with the 'ability' for doing good and evil - there is a difference...and how we turn out is down to genetics, social interaction, peer pressure, our own consciences(or lack of it) - and for me a total dependance on God.

[Alej]

i dont believe in god and therefore conventional good or evil. We are born with animal instincts to survive which of course is a selfish instinct, as we grow we are taught to share and how we should act in civilised society. I suppose calling it being born evil and taught good would be a symplistic christian view of it. It is like saying animals are all evil - they act with their instincts. Its natural, not evil, we just are taught how WE think is GOOD to act.

[Robinia]

No Cetti I could never look at a baby & wonder whether it will grow up to be evil either.