A reader are also availble together as a print or ebook set. I argue that neither the outcome of such competition nor the particular content of these theories is as clear as pinker believes. This anthology provides a set of distinctive, influential views that explore the mysteries of human nature from a variety of perspectives. Three theories of individualism usf scholar commons. It can be read on its own, or in conjunction with joel kupperman s text, theories of human nature. For more information on the set, please click here. Human nature has always been a fascinating topic, especially given the selfcenteredness and narcissism that characterizes our species i wonder. Among his many publications are six myths about the good life.
Three theories of human nature stenmark 2009 zygon. Issues about human nature are at the core of philosophy, but theories of human nature can be found in many academic disciplines and all humans have opinions and. The modern denial of human nature, steven pinker maintains that at present there are three competing views of human naturea christian theory, a blank slate theory what i call a social constructivist theory, and a darwinian theoryand that the last of these will triumph in the end. If evolution shaped the human body, they say, it also shaped the human mind. Kupperman does a very good job at presenting his readers with a variety of philosophical perspectives on his subject matter, ranging widely in time and space. Aristotle 384322 bce was a student of platos and the tutor of alexander the great. I examine each thinkers concrete conditions, their theory of human nature, theory of justice and their corresponding theory of individualism. They use the theory of natural selection to explain the workings of the human brain and the dynamics of the human group. In the first three chapters, i examine first lockes, then mills then deweys theory of human nature, justice and. Theories on human nature before mencius and xunzibased on sheng is from ming, and ming is from tian. A very fine book on human nature, both what it is and what philosophers have thought about itphilosophers in an inclusive sense, from plato and aristotle to mengzi and xunzi, from hume and kant to ibn alarabi to marx and rousseau and including many others. Human nature is the sum total of our species identity, the mental, physical, and spiritual characteristics that make humans uniquely, well, human. Thinking about what has value, classic asian philosophy.
The reason its so important for marxists to remember that this is marxs view of human nature is that, otherwise, his theory of alienation. The most comprehensive work of its kind, the volume opens with chapters on the hebrewchristian view of human nature. Summary of aristotles theory of human nature reason and. Over three previous editions, ten theories of human nat. The ideal of human fulfillment this is a summary of a chapter in a book i often used in university classes. Marxs view of human nature has implications for our. Who are we theories of human nature, 2006, 301 pages. Pojman seeks to find answers to these questions by exploring major theories in western philosophy and religion, along with several traditions in eastern thought. Review youguang li 2010 frontiers of philosophy in china 5 1. Theories of human nature ancient philosophy philosophy.
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