Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Human Nature and Natual Law
During our class discussion on Tuesday, 9/8, we discussed the ideas of what natural laws are created and developed solely from human nature without some form of divine input or creation. While we originally used terms like "selfishness" and "mothering" to explain those human nature created natural laws. However, by the end of class, we had removed those terms, either because we found situations where those laws could definitely be broken or are not universally held, or because we found a more encompassing term. In the end, we had replaced all of our previous terms with one single term, "self-preservation." While this is one of the only true natural human laws, it also provides a view of humanity that is not necessarily very positive. While we can attribute things like prohibitions against murder or stealing to commandments from God, the only law we can find to attribute to human nature is self-preservation. This gives an extremely depressing view that shows that humanity has not truly changed over the millennia of development of our species. While we have moral codes, that differ based on culture or religion or region, humanity has never developed a truly universal code or ideals of how to live one's life except for living in such a way that will increase one's chances for self-preservation and the preservation of our offspring and genes.
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I agree that self-preservation is the essential natural law. All other laws evolve from self-preservation. There needed to be laws that ensured everyone’s self-preservation. Those laws eventually became written. Rulers realized that individuals could not self-preserve at the destruction of others. So written law became law.
ReplyDeleteI am also in complete agreement with your idea of self-preservation as the only truly natural law. While it is depressing to think that humanity has not really changed much of the many years of existence, that also implies the natural tendency of humans to think we should be "better than that." In reality, we must accept that the rational animal is still just an animal.
ReplyDeleteWhile I can see what leads you to argue that it is depressing that we haven't changed much as a society over the years and that we still live by the only true natural law of "self preservation," I disagree that this is necessarily a bad thing. In order for self preservation to be full circle we must also preserve the other things around us, like family, friends, and community. In acts of self preservation we in turn preserve the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is no truly universal code on how to live one’s life other than the fact that one must practice self preservation. The rules on how to live your life can differ vastly from religion to religion, but still adhere to condemning certain wrongs such as murder.
ReplyDeleteI agree that humans do only live by self preservation and that is truly the only natural law that we follow. Humans unfortunately do have the tendencies to be violent and go against the natural laws. Written laws and statutes are what humans are supposed to follow now but unfortunately many people break these laws. Though humans try and attempt to follow the natural they have sadly failed throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteYour idea of self-preservation is a good point: it would be hard to say that people commit many actions without thinking of themselves. I think it is definitely true that this concept plays a large role in how people choose to respond to laws. Sometimes people may commit crimes for some sort of self-preservation, or they may follow laws for the same reason.
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