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Born Good Or Bad?

Do you feel man is inherently bad (by whatever your belief system considers as 'bad', 'evil' or 'wicked') or does he learn to become bad? Is it possible for a man to be brought up with no interaction with other humans and still be either 'bad' or 'good'?

Bad Good Born

It is my belief that a person cannot be born "bad." Since I am specifically Christian, I believe that each of us is born with a conscience that helps us to choose between good and evil. Therefore, everyone is born "good."

However, I also believe that environment/rearing is a big factor in how people eventually "turn out," and that physical abnormalities in the brain, hormone imbalances, and mental illness all contribute to "bad" outcomes.

I don't believe he would be born "bad," but may have behaviors that "society" would find inappropriate; however, I believe those inappropriate behaviors would come from lack of teaching and naivete rather than any inherent "badness" or evil.

All in my opinion, of course.
Roz

Born Good Or Bad? Beliefs Religious General

I think that "For the natural man is an enemy to God," Mosiah 3:19 Book of Mormon, means to me that we are born less than "good," but not necessarily bad. I realize this is not the LDS board, but the question asks what my belief system tells me about good/bad and this scriptural reference is important in explaining it. Not everyone believes in the Bible either yet, people don't hesitate to quote the Bible, so I am quoting the Book of Mormon by way of explanation for this belief. I hope no one is offended.

What does this term mean to me? It means our natural tendencies are for self preservation. This can appear as "bad" in society. I think the natural tendency is I will do whatever I need to survive and not worry about whether or not you survive as well. So, I believe one raised without any contact with society would appear bad to those in society and would be "bad" based upon Christian principals. I think lying and stealing for example would be quite natural if the outcome were positive towards whatever the desired achievement.

I think the concept of concern for your fellow man, etc., is a learned trait. However, I don't believe any one is born a serial killer either. I don't think senseless killing comes naturally. I think survival does, but that is where I think the line is in the wild, which is where we would be without society.

Edited: funbikerchick on 14th Apr, 2005 - 10:38am

Bad Good Born

I believe that almost every single man which is not brought up by humans will behave in a way which we would call bad. He would behave just like any other animal. He would most probably kill for survival, and think first about himself, because that is what our instincts tell us to do, and there will not be the force of society and law pushing against that. However, these 'bad' acts are not necessarily of his will and intention.

If raised in society, and presence of other humans, you would have the influence of society. There is no need to kill in order to survive in the present time. Then, I think, if a man has the influence of both instincts and society, it is truly his choice which path to follow. One may be born with a tendency toward either good or bad, but no one is born with a predetermined path, in my opinion. I also think that in birth, you are always born 'bad', but with the influences coming later on, from around you, you may decide if to stay that way, or improve.

Edited: Smudge on 15th Apr, 2005 - 2:24am

Bad Good Born

I do not think man is naturally "born bad" but I do believe that man naturally does bad things. Preforming some bad acts is not enough to be labeled bad just as the opposite holds true. It is the over all result of how much bad or how much good you make from your life that ultimately decides (this is a hedonistic approach and it does have some exceptions in my opinion, but its close enough to make an argument with without bogging things down with moral theory).
In addition it is possible for a man to be bad without human interaction, but not because he shares the same commonalities with animals. I do not look at a tiger and say it is bad, nor do I believe that a wild person should be held to different standards. The laws of nature are neutral and to apply societal morals to them is unfair. A wild man can still cause unnecessary torment to his surroundings for his own enjoyment- this would make him bad, but he could also be good by going through extra effort to waste not and be humane about dealing death to dinner.
The reason why I can hold a wild man to different standards than a man of society is because there are certain behaviors that are OK in nature, but are unsustainable in a society...Unfortunately only public defecation is coming to mind... Perfectly OK for the man in the wild, but if this practice was allowed in a society then death and disease would run rampant. Therefore for a man of society just "going" anywhere would be a bad act, but not so for the wild man. This is the double standard that I keep.
-Unferth

Born Good Or Bad?

I think that people are born neither good nor bad, but simply are. From birth, man (as in humanity) is generally self serving. A child throws a fit if he cannot get what he wants, until he is taught other wise. In any situation, unless you have learned or been taught a belief differently, you will be completely self serving. It is the natural order to look after your self. In order for this not to happen, something stronger has to take over that sense of self first. Love is one of those things that does this. The love of another human, the love of a child, even the love of a pet will cause you to do things decidedly against your built in nature to look after yourself first. That is why the Bible says to love others as you love yourself, because you love yourself very much. Even if you don't think you do, you are not looking at your life very well. If you feed yourself when your hungry, if you sleep when you tired, if you wash when your dirty, then you love yourself. That is why you do things that are self serving, not because you are bad, but because you look after yourself first, you will do anything to satisfy your own needs and desires unless taught differently.

Born Good Bad

You can't honestly label these actions as "bad". He is trying to survive after all.

In my opinion, people are not born good or bad, they just are born. Throughout their life they do things. Some good, some bad. With some exception (like sociopats), no one is bad or good. It's like you'd say that things are just black or white, when they usually are more or less grey.
P.S. Haven't you heard of "criminals" doing altruistic deeds (like saving a child from a burning house or from drowning)?