Do you believe in the basic goodness of human beings? Explain and give examples from your own life, or from what you’ve observed about life.
Remember, this reponse is to be approximately 150 words long.
Be prepared for a response to your answer from me and from up to five classmates.
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December 16, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hi Pat,
I am leaving a comment on your blog. Students are being asked to submit coments to your blog. You will have to approve each individual comment so that they can be viewed publicly. It looks great!
December 16, 2008 at 3:09 pm
as bad as it sounds, no, i don’t believe in the beings basic goodness of human beings. I say this because I am one of those people that analyzes everything and can somewhat understand human behavior, basically, why they do the things they do. people do not care about other people, thats a simple fact. I’ve seen people do things with complete disregard to someonne elses feelings. there are people in the world who kill and steal and lie and decieve and cheat and get away with it and continue to do it. My basic philosphy towards other people is i just don’t trust them. “NO ONE EVER REALLY CARES”. Everyone is for themselves and would step over a person in a wheelchair as long as they are on top. Humans are obsessed with having more and being bigger and grand that they lose sight of what is moral and right. I’ve known people to smile in your face one day and then the next talk bad about you when you are not around. people hate without reasons and believe that they are right. people will push pass you and not say excuse me,talk while you are taking a test, laugh when you fall, maybe eeven trip you, instead of helping you up. i absolutely do not believe in the basic goodness of humans. there are very few people in the world who are good people. in my life i can say i’ve only met 2 and that includes me. humans now a days are nothing but skin, bones and blood.
December 19, 2008 at 2:10 am
Faith,
I’ve known bad people like the ones you’ve described. These are venomous people who poison
us with their anger and selfishness. I’ve known good people, too, and often find them in the most unexpected
places. I try to focus on positive energies as much as I can.
My question to you is, who is the other “good” person you’ve met ?
Mrs. J.
December 19, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I think that human beings all have the potential to be good people. The circumstances that come into play though are what the people’s upbringings and social environments are like. I like to think that people’s natural instinct is to do good. From what i have observed though more people in the world are more concerned about their own wellbeing instead of others.
Being a good person to me means being a positive person. When you are a negative person it makes others negative too, creating a chain reaction. But the more postive things one person does the more postive things other people will do. Though being a good person is not measured in how many good deeds a person does. If it was i think think people would be doing them for the wrong reasons. Being a good person is something you want to be because it is the right thing, not because you will get noticed for it.
December 19, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Do I believe the basics in people? Honestly I really have to say no. There’s a sense of balance between “good and evil” but no one is just “good” and vica versa. I do believe in karma though, that’s why I try to do the “right” thing. For example, [true story] there was this one guy-you know the “popular jock” type, I knew; not going to mention any names but, he was a bit of a…jerk. There was this shy girl who was somewhat liked by everyone except him and well he told her that she was nothing and all this stuff. Telling her that she was any thing and then he stormed off to his car. A few hours later, his car actually went down a steep hill due to some black ice. He basically ended up with nothing in the end. Everyone lost their respect for him and then, well, lets just say that was it for him. Do you know why that happened to him-karma. He told her to basically kill herself but in fact he ended up doing it to himself. Karma has a wierd way of showing itself; it “reveals” itself at a time when you least expect it. Believe me, I’ve had some karma expierences but they’re not as big as the story I mentioned above.
December 19, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I do beleive that there are natural goodness in people it just all depends on who you are and what you mean to them. Now a days people are more so worried about making it big and providing for there family even if it means to step on others. For example I just boke up with my boyfriend like a month ago. His family excepted me real well at first but now that we have broken up me and his family do not talk anymore. I know it in there hearts that they still do care for me but not the same way they use to. Not the same way they would love his future wife or even his next girlfriend and that doesn’t mean that his family is evil. I just have to think on how I would feel if that was my family and how I would want them to support me. Now a days there are not that many people who feel that they should be kind with how society is today. Many people are shot and killed for just saying hello. I feel that people are raised now to just show that side to there family and friends and to try to pull off a tough exterior so they don’t get hurt.
December 19, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I don’t really think that that this can be an either “yes” or “no” question. Yes, some people are good and will give their lives for their morals, but then again there are the people who murder, lie, cheat and steal without any guilt whatsoever. Once again, I’m in the gray area. I can only speak for myself when answering this, but I think I would only go so far to preserve my own morals. In an extreme situation I don’t think I would be able to give my life for what’s right. It’s human basic nature to protect ourselves. If the issue were less extreme, I would do what’s right. For example, if someone were being treated unfairly, I would stand up for them.
We aren’t all saints. Yes, there are people out there who are so passionate about righteousness that they will go to the extremes. There are also people out there who do little things from time to time that touch a life in some small way, but I cannot say that as a whole, we will do what is right.
Not trying to ramble too much but just another thing I wanted to point out. People don’t like to be alone with their opinions. They are more likely to follow a group than to be alone. It’s uncomfortable to be that one, lone person with everyone else against you.
December 19, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I beieve in basic goodness in human beings because of there choice in life to be good. I kno some people will fall under the badness of there choices itsin their life. Having the worst become sadder to makes them give up on every thing which challenges them. Ive seen people hate another to see there happiness within our demise. People do give good love to people but because there are some people who are compassionate enough to do so. But in not at all of which we call a life style, wickedly bad people rod us of our dignity and gives us hate. But we still seek peace through all the fear between us and our “goodness”. I look at everything so differently im over peoples head and my head which bumps head with the world. I care about everything in the world and i believe people can care to. Its just them being scared of change and just life. Thats why i always have to put a smile on someones face and it shows me there is some good in everybody.
December 19, 2008 at 3:01 pm
In ones making of choices, they see each of their choices with some sense of what is good and what is evil. If a person did not do what they believed to be correct, then they would feel shameful of what they have done. In the case that a person held a different view of good and bad, they would be regarded as evil by a society that upholds those same morals. This hypothetical person should begin to invest in some realestate in another society. While some societies regard certain acts as wrong, another society somewhere else may see nothing wrong about it. I believe that every person follows what they believe to be right, whether the others around follow that same opinion or not.
(not applicable to sociopaths.)
December 19, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Sometimes it is easier to believe that people do not have basic goodness in their hearts. We more often than not see the bad things people do rather than the good. The news will often report on terrible things that happen. These things seem to be in no short supply and sometimes make you feel like people are only capable of doing bad things. And then you hear about a man who gave his life to save a child’s or a mother that works two jobs to support her children. These are sign of hope right? I believe that bad people are capable of doing good things. I think that people tend to lean toward being selfish. Some people say that they would never do certain things that they perceive to be bad but deep down I think that everybody can do bad things. The argument could be made that deep down there is a good choice awaiting as well as a bad one. In Schenectady it seems like people choose to do bad things like crack. In society it could be said that people are pushed toward being good and obeying laws but if there were no laws what then? Some people have a different concept of good and bad. This could ultimately decide if somebody is “good” or “bad”.
December 19, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Lots of insightful thoughts here, Jake. I agree that people are capable of both good and bad. It’s that dichotomy (dualness) of our nature that makes life interesting. We also have free will; we’re able to make choices, as you suggest.
You also bring up the point about “relative moralism.” What is right for one person might be wrong for another. Or, circumstances may change the “right” and “wrong” of a situation. Can you think of a situation which might change because of circumstances?
December 19, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I’m glad you feel that there is good in everybody, even if they don’t show it all the time. I’m glad that you reach out to others to give hope to people.
December 19, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Arianna,
You’ve hit upon the crux of this question: the duality of the human condition. We are both good and bad and it is the choices we make that determine our life path.
You’re also right about the extremes some people will go to for a cause…like Zillah in the play, for example. Most of us don’t react in such an overboard way, yet one has to admire the guts it takes to go out on a limb for something. I think that Gottchling is probably the most realistic character in that she reacts heroically but not fanactically to the forces around her.
Finally, it’s true that we humans are “pack animals,” that is, those who feel most comfortable being part of a group, whether it’s family, friends, coworkers, etc. Sometimes, though, this gets us into trouble, as when mob rule takes over, or when a demagogue like Hitler is able to convince a nation of his diabolical ways.
Mrs. J.
December 19, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Shakima,
You bring up some very good points. You’re talking about people protecting, not only their belongings or their pride, but also their feelings with a rough, uncaring, even violent exterior. Do you think that anybody is brought up to care for their fellow human beings? Do you think that even those with a rough outside have it in them to reach out to others in a time of need?
December 19, 2008 at 8:34 pm
So, you think that the jock guy had it coming to him? Do you think he represents most people? Do you think that most people are like you and “try to do the right thing”? I agree with you that noone is absolutely bad or good. However, it’s a lot harder to find the “good” in somebody who’s really bad…..like a Hitler, for example, or, is it that their wrong deeds are so horrendous that there is not enough good in them to make up for the bad?
December 19, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Yes, this intrinsic motivation that you’re talking about is “more pure” than the type that drives people to get noticed, complimented, etc. The ultimate “good” is doing something simply because it’s the right/moral/ethical thing to do rather than for personal aggrandizement. It takes a lot of maturity to accomplish that type of motivation.
I agree that being positive is a good policy. It does create a chain reaction, and maybe that’s a place for each person to start. We don’t all have to be heroes; we could start small, with a smile, a practical solution to a problem, an attitude of compromise rather than conflict. Then, maybe, our world would not be so fraught with strife.
December 19, 2008 at 8:41 pm
So, you think that basically, everyone is seeking to do the “right” thing; it’s just a matter of each person’s own value system. Is this a form of moral relativism, a concept that proposes that there is no absolute right or wrong, only that which fits a certain set of circumstances?
January 12, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I do, I believe that people are inherently good. I think that all people are born with good hearts and minds but due to some life conditions or underlying mental illness people may help to corrupt a person and turn them evil or help to develop evil characteristics.
I think that the little things help to keep me a believer in the good of people. For example, when someone is rude to me, there’s another time when a person may hold a door for me. And I think that this evens it out. And I know that there are tons of terrible things happening in the world but I think that sometimes in a twisted indirect way the bad stuff helps to bring out the good in others. I’m not saying that this evens it out but for most or all of the major problems that the world faces there is at least one charity or organization there to help people and fight against or for their cause.
On a different note though, I do understand where Faith is coming from when she says ““NO ONE EVER REALLY CARES”. Everyone is for themselves and would step over a person in a wheelchair as long as they are on top. Humans are obsessed with having more and being bigger and grand that they lose sight of what is moral and right.” But I just simply do not believe that this is true for everyone. This may be and probably is true for a lot of the population around these parts but I know that there is good out there. And I think that there is good in everyone. A lot of people are scared of doing good things though, for example some males may think that being nice and courteous may make them look weak, so to try to look masculine they may kill or beat people up.
I like to think positively as much as I can, and I think that this quote helps to describe it better than i can.
” I believe, I believe, I… I believe in the good. I believe that it’s been a hell of a year and I believe that, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that we will be okay….I believe that believing we survive… is what makes us survive.”
January 14, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Sam,
I am of the same mind. I know there is goodness out there, but I also knowevil is everywhere. I like your “evening out” analogy. If there is a grand scorekeeper, certainly we all ought to try to score on the side of good more often than not.
Thanks for a thoughtful, eloquent responses to this question.
Mrs. Johnson