Yes, common physical and mental characteristics across all humans. When I use the term "human nature," I am using it as contemporary scientists (biologists, etc.) use it. Humans are social animals, both competing and cooperating simultaneously.
I encourage people on this list to read the science of "evolutionary psychology." If they would take the time to learn it -- to get beyond the stereotypes -- they would be pleasantly surprised. http://tinyurl.com/275rl2d People on this list believe humans are basically kind, sharing, etc. -- and they are correct! Evolutionary psychology illuminates the social conditions necessary to achieve a cooperative type of a society. Unfortunately, no one knows how to get from here to there. Jay On 11/30/2010 7:59 AM, Jim Devine wrote: > BTW, what is meant by the phrase "human nature"? Usually, > conservatives (of various stripes) assume that it's some unchanging > essence of being human (sinfulness, self-centered greed, etc.) which > usually doesn't describes themselves. I don't think we can agree on > the conservatives' specifics, but it makes sense to define "human > nature" as those characteristics (physical and mental) that are shared > by all human beings across all countries and across all time periods. > To many on the left, the set of these shared characteristics is very > small. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
