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Sun 11 Jan, 2004 06:20 pm
I would like to renew this age-old debate because of the implications of how we manage our future and that of the world. To me there are undeniable features of the human condition that smack of evolution and are therefore genetic traits that surface in often ugly ways. On the other hand there are those who insist that human nature is completely malleable by the environment--these would be the proponents of the "Blank Slate". Marx was also a proponent of human nature as malleable ----- this made it very convenient for him to produce this dictum: "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" To me this sort of pronouncement is absolutely contrary to my perception of human nature. I suspect he also knew it was contrary therefore he was forced to formulate ( or proclaim the validity of new thinking) which was more adaptable to Socialism.
There is a new book which applies some old thinking in a new methodology which I believe will add some sense to this debate but first I would like to hear your opinions on the subject.
Steven Pinker pretty much killed the Blank Slate theory in his book - "The Blank Slate". He doesn't claim that nothing is malleable - just that both the "it's all Genetic" and the "it's all learned" camps are both wrong. It's a bit of both.
I haven't finished Pinkers book yet fishin'----he is still refuting the "blank slate" theory. What do you think fishin'? What about the "ugly" part of human nature?
BTW---I should have made it clear that Pinkers book---the blank slate(which has been around for quite a while) is NOT the new book I made reference to. It appears there is not much interest in this OLD topic -----bit disappointing because so many people have so many misconceptions about it.
The pragmatists believe that while all aspects of human behavior can be made acceptable within a civilized society as long as society itself is reasonable and controlled by a well established rule of law and justice. However if the society begins to break down and the rule of law is not properly enforced then the savage elements of human nature surface and law of the jungle prevails.
Socialists believe essentially that human behavior is a learned thing and that if society is fair and just and the environment is peaceful and fruitfull then all humans within that society will be happy and content which will negate the need for law enforcement.
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