There is no Such Thing as the Essential Nature of Man
There is no such thing as the Essential Nature of Man.
What is a human identity, why do we have an urge to separate ourselves from animals and seek individualism as a species? Is there such a thing as an essential nature of man? In order to determine this, we must first define what an essential nature is. The dictionary defines nature as: 1. The material world and its phenomena.
2. The forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world: the laws of nature. 3. The world of living things and the outdoors: the beauties of nature. 4. A primitive state of existence untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or artificiality. 5. Theology. Humankind's natural state as distinguished from the state of grace. 6. A kind or sort: confidences of a personal nature.
7. The essential characteristics and qualities of a person or thing: 8. The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament: 9. The natural or real aspect of a person, place, or thing. 10. The processes and functions of the body.
The dictionary continues to define essential as:
1. Constituting or being part of the essence of something; inherent. 2. Basic or indispensable, necessary: essential ingredients.
When combined, they allow us to define an essential nature as the fundamental characteristics shared by all humans; they are inherent in all man, and not shared by the animal kingdom.
In the past, such a question was considered heresy. There was a clear-cut difference between men and animals and everyone accepted it. The main belief at the time was imposed by one culture, that of the Western Christian culture. The views of this culture were very religious, everyone believed in God, and believed that we were put on the earth by him. The Church enforced theses opinions strictly, and people who criticised these beliefs were considered heretics, and faced serious opposition, and risked execution. However scientific developments and new understandings of the
What is a human identity, why do we have an urge to separate ourselves from animals and seek individualism as a species? Is there such a thing as an essential nature of man? In order to determine this, we must first define what an essential nature is. The dictionary defines nature as: 1. The material world and its phenomena.
2. The forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world: the laws of nature. 3. The world of living things and the outdoors: the beauties of nature. 4. A primitive state of existence untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or artificiality. 5. Theology. Humankind's natural state as distinguished from the state of grace. 6. A kind or sort: confidences of a personal nature.
7. The essential characteristics and qualities of a person or thing: 8. The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament: 9. The natural or real aspect of a person, place, or thing. 10. The processes and functions of the body.
The dictionary continues to define essential as:
1. Constituting or being part of the essence of something; inherent. 2. Basic or indispensable, necessary: essential ingredients.
When combined, they allow us to define an essential nature as the fundamental characteristics shared by all humans; they are inherent in all man, and not shared by the animal kingdom.
In the past, such a question was considered heresy. There was a clear-cut difference between men and animals and everyone accepted it. The main belief at the time was imposed by one culture, that of the Western Christian culture. The views of this culture were very religious, everyone believed in God, and believed that we were put on the earth by him. The Church enforced theses opinions strictly, and people who criticised these beliefs were considered heretics, and faced serious opposition, and risked execution. However scientific developments and new understandings of the