2.

1 WHY DOES YOUR VIEW OF

HUMAN MATTER? (pp. 51-56) Being loved
Feeling good about oneself
When we talk about Human Nature we
Have other think well about oneself
often ask these questions
Mercer argues that we look on our intentional
What is Human Being?
actions (Introspection)
How do you see yourself?
How do others see you? Introspection is the way which one examine
How do you live? or observe ones own mental and emotional
processes.
According to psychologists:
We couldnt fully understand others action
Human Nature is motivated solely by unless we attribute to such motive.
self-interest or unselfish considerations.
The only kind of motivation we can
According to Freud; Men are powerful understand is self-interest or in his words,
measure of desire for aggressiveness. the expectation of realizing some self-
Thomas Hobbes defined Human Nature as regarding end.
a Psychological Egoism. Actions are performed in expectation of a
This theory says that human beings are made Reward.
so that they act only out of self-interest.
DEFINE DEDUCTIVE AND
Hobbes; Human are material bodies, and INDUCTIVE
we can explain their activities much like those
of a biological machine. Whenever Deductive argument- is meat to show its
human beings do somethings, they are seeking conclusion is necessarily true if its premises
satisfaction of their own mechanistic are true.
desires.
Inductive/Probable argument- is meant to
Hobbes claimed the Antisocial desire for show its conclusion is probably but not
power over others is what mainly motivates necessarily true if its premises are true.
human beings.
We can evaluate whether an argument is valid
According to Mark Mercer, by trying to imagine situations in which
premises are true but its conclusion is false.
When people act intentionally, they always
expect a self-regarding benefit/reward. THE IMPORTANCE OF
Behind any action whatever that an agents UNDERSTANDING HUMAN
performs intentionally, ultimately their lies an NATURE
agents expectation of realizing one or more of
her self-regarding ends, an expectation without Beliefs about our nature influence our
which the agent would not have performed the relationship, our view of our place in the
action. universe.
Self-regarding End is something that VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE:
rewards or benefits ones own self such as
getting: Mercers View: Human act out of self-
interest
Pleasure
Happiness We think all humans are selfish
Avoiding pain We start to mistrust others
Gaining power/ Possessions
Self-respect
We become suspicious of kindness Independent Individual; it exists
and continually wonder what benefit separate from other things and people,
does other people get with an independent identity.
OPPOSITE VIEW: *All thigs mention above for 2.2 are the
Traditional Western View of Human Nature*
Human do not act out of self-interest

We gain trust and openness THE RATIONALISTIC VERSION OF

We accept kind gestures of strangers as THE TRADITIONAL WESTERN
natural VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE
Human have a spiritual aspect as well as
REASONING is the highest power
material aspect.
According to Plato, the highly influential
Humans are open to religious version of the Traditional theory of human
experience
nature views that humans primarily are self-
Humans are willing to see his life in capable of reasoning.
this material universe
Plato: What is Self?
Human Being is purely a physical
creature. According to Plato..

Highly developed brain Soul=Psyche or Inner self

Uses Reasoning
Plato illustrated is view using a
S 2.2 WHAT HUMAN NATURE? Poisoned water and for example he suppose
(pp. 57-81) that you are very thirsty, one part of yourself
invites you to drink he called as APETITE.
*Read the story about near death experience.*
By APETITE, he meant thirst and hunger
Life after death assumes that the self is (sexual and other desires)
conscious, has a purpose and is distinct from
its material body. Yet a second part of yourself, reason, forbids
you to drink.
Life after death assumptions about Human
Nature: Plato meant that; through reasoning Human
capacity for thinking reflectively for drawing
All humans beings have a self Ego or I that conclusion--- the ability to follow relationships
exist in the physical body and that is conscious from one thought to another in orderly and
and rational. rational way.
This Self can think, reason and perceive. Rational part of Human Self: BRAIN
SELF: But Conflict arises
Have a purpose Appetite vs. Aggression/Self-assertiveness
Different from, but related to, the
body. The body is describes a In my own view.(hehe)
physical/material entity, while the I considered Platos view as similar as Freuds
self is described as a idea about human psyche.
spiritual/immaterial entity (soul) that
can survive death from its body. Freud distinguish through 3 personality,
Endures through time namely:
The ID- operates our desires and wishful Although, the ability of human to control
impulse should be satisfied immediately, appetite and aggression varies on the humans
regardless of the consequence likewise it is past life choices. (Domino effect)
similar to the definition of APPETITE.
Aristotle agrees to Plato that: REASON is the
ID is chaotic and unreasonable. highest power but ARISTOTLE viewed that
HUMAN NATURE requires only knowledge
The EGO or I- works by Reason, it works of our own world, thus PLATO viewed that
out realistic ways of satisfying the ids HUMAN NATURE involves knowledge of
demands, often compromising or another world of reality and the ability of
postponing satisfaction to avoid negative human to reason sets human self apart from
consequences. other creatures.
The EGO seeks pleasure and avoids pain but
devising a realistic strategy to obtain pleasure.
If the EGO fails in its attempt to use the ARISTOTLE:
reality principle, and anxiety is experienced,
unconscious defense mechanism are employed
which is similar with AGGRESSION.
The SUPEREGO or I Above- incorporates
the values and morals of society.
Uses our Conscience to determine
GOOD/RIGHT vs. BAD/WRONG
Its function is to control ids impulse which
society forbids and also, it persuade the ego
to turn to moralistic goals rather than
simply realistic ones and to strive for
perfection.

Plato use the word: FORMS

FORMS- external and perfect ideals that
exist in an unchanging perfect heaven.
Purpose of a soul= Free of its body ascend
to heaven and be united with perfect forms
The soul can do this if it can control its bodily
desires and trains its aggressive impulse
Plato concluded that: Reason, Appetite and
Aggression are 3 main parts of Human
Nature.
Reason can know how we ought to live, for
that it should rule appetite and aggression.
PLATOS RATIONALISTIC VIEW:
Human control their appetite and aggressive
impulse through the use of reasoning.