While Rousseau has important components to his argument, I
find myself supporting Hobbes’s view of human nature. I would truly like to believe that we are
innately good and that nurturing and environmental factors determine our
personalities; however I just cannot.
Was Hitler’s mother anti-Semitic?
(remove mother and insert ANY social influence; person, place, occurrences). Was he exposed to any factors in his life that
guided him in justifying murdering millions of innocent people for his personal
beliefs? Did he read a manual that explained exterminating entire races and
religions would be in the true interest of the people? He certainly believed these things himself.
If we discuss other brute or corrupt people such as Attila the Hun or Queen
Elizabeth our case seems to be confined to particular people. Now, take into consideration that all of the
slaughter needed support. Followers,
sympathizers, executioners, etc. all possess the characteristic traits that
Hobbes outlined.
On an unrelated note, I came up with a couple questions
regarding the two arguments.
1. Is conservatism
synonymous to determinism? In Hobbes’s argument he stated that free will does
not exist- by elimination does this create an argument for the opposing side?
2. If I am a supporter
of Hobbes’s pessimistic view, is it possible for me to be optimistic about my
personal suppression of my negative attributes?
Is this contradictory in fundamental nature, or is my use of the work
“optimistic” signifying the varying capacity I recognize each human to possess?
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