Can Human Nature Be Changed?
"Forty lashes should improve his attitude, make ‘im more obedient!"
If, for the sake of argument, it can be accepted that humans are a flawed specie, one that may well be destined for extinction, then the next question that needs to be asked is whether or not human nature can be changed or modified? A quick look at history will prove instructive.
Early attempts at regulating human behaviour came from two major directions: royal and religious institutions. Once primitive societies began to form in villages, towns then cities, rules were set to try to ensure that some harmony exists between the inhabitants who otherwise might think that raping and pillaging their next door neighbour was a reasonable thing to do. These rules became laws and eventually systems of enforcement and punishment for lawbreakers followed. Kings and Emperors ruled and used their armies to enforce law and order as well as to repel invaders of the kingdom. Punishments for wrongdoers were often very brutal. An eye for an eye was a common remedy along with stoning, beheading, crucifixion, etc.
As societies formed, religions also began to form and grow as primitive man tried to answer difficult questions about himself and his fraught world. Humans being what they are, it wasn’t long before various cunning men realized the potential power that a religious hierarchy could have over superstitious people’s thinking and lives. Theological fantasies were dreamed up and strange commandments and obscure language were established and given an ‘other world’ overlay with promises of terrible punishment like burning forever in hell or damnation for those who transgressed. Superstitious humans fell for the deception. They still do!
In more recent centuries, education has been used as another modifying influence on human behaviour. It was felt that an educated people might be less primitive, less violent, more reasoning. A variety of educational systems have been tried. Schools first taught with the aid of the strap, then the cane, then with psychology. Recitation and rote learning was employed then…well, you’ve probably been to school and perhaps university and know well the tricks that were tried on you to get you to think, to learn, to acquire useful skills and to become well-mannered and cultured. It was a brave ambition indeed!
Despite the influence of laws, religion and, more latterly, education, human civilization has lurched from empire to empire with lots of invasions and massacres and human misery in between. We’ve had the killing of all first children, sacrificing one’s own children on altars, burning at the stake, invasions by Muslin and Mongol hordes, Inquisitions, Spanish Conquistadors, the genocide in the New World, slavery, Civil Wars, two World Wars, Vietnam, Korea, the stealing of Palestine, the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Cold War, Iraq, Afghanistan, to name just a few highlights. Weapons have moved from simple arrows and swords to the creation of fearsome apocalyptic nightmares. Men have fought for their country, for their empire, for promotion, for profit, for land, for gold, for slaves, for trade, for scarce resources, for prestige, etc. Many still fight simply because they love killing!
In contemporary times, America is engaged in world hegemony, a nuclear war is possible in Iran, global warming hangs over our heads like the Sword of Damocles, much of our soil, air and water is poisoned, droughts and floods are rife as is genocide, religious conflict, viral epidemics and mass starvation. Yes, humans have achieved much during the last ten thousand years. Much but little of real value! Peace is still an elusive dream.
All of the foregoing is directly attributable to human nature. Sure, there are evil leaders but those who lead need need followers. Look at Hitler or Pol Pot or Chairman Mao or George Bush for example: they had or have plenty of followers. The bottom line is that, in many respects, basic human behaviour has changed little during many millenia despite the law, its mechanisms, religious fairy-tales and education.
We need to look elsewhere for the magic key to our salvation!
Photo Link.
Mr Grayling,
You are not living in my reality.
I am 25 years old and thus far have receive practically nothing, very little, rewarding out of my life.
No, not really, I agree with what you’re saying; it’s just that I’m uneasy over the fact that I’ll probably have to sleep walk through the next several years of my life unable to consider anything other than the worship of the almighty dollar and hope that my body still functions correctly at the time I’m able to take advantage of the funds I’ve acquired by living on bread and water (gasp).
Sometimes I wonder how many out there are as lifeless as I see myself becoming.
This is reality; I am mad at it.
Grant me temporary immunity from the law/order consequences and for the right reward I will gleefully engage in the primitive (I get it) behavior you outline above…so long as you could perform some medical miracle that could make it so that it wouldn’t weigh down on me psychologically afterwards.
It’s time for me to quit complaining about being a scared little peasant now…perhaps it’s time for you to stop trying to be so confusing.
Yes, I saw your comment at http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12479…. I came here because your comment was insane, just in a way I wasn’t used to. What’s the deal? You do not think that there can be democratic socio-economical changes or whatever you call it?
I look at the democratic presidential candidates and see contradictions between their rhetoric and behavior. John Edwards seems to have earned my respect, because while he hasn’t put his money where his mouth is, he is the safest bet on doing so, however naive that bet is. He almost sounds like Kucinich (who is a total freak). The other two are on both sides of the fence.
Unfortunately, as of the Florida primary, it’s not looking too good for Edwards. Unlike some I do not see any kind of media black-out on him…he’s in the debates, he’s on the talk shows.. Aren’t these things that a majority of voters look into?
The answer is clear to me. The populace is just too ignorant to grasp that Edward’s populist message is different from the more corporate Obama and Hillary’s; thus the primary has devolved into a weird pageant of racialism and sexuality.
Nevermind the Republicans!
I can’t give up hope, though.. I see myself as being young, decent looking, and somewhat intelligent.. I can think of something to get ahead a little without destroying my body and then once I have my little taste of life and love I can just reevaluate these things again and do my little part while not giving a damn, which is much more than I can say for most in this country.
I am saying that I am going to use the system to temporarily gain a few levels of happiness, not to live the American Dream that is a nightmare for so many. I will hopefully be in a position to sacrifice (I’m not necessarily saying martyrdom or grandiosity or something of that nature). I merely need something to lose, per se, before I can personally do anything worthy.
Maybe before I can do any of this I will destroy myself first or maybe the system will do it for me, maybe disease or a freak accident will do it; be that as it may, whatever goes down, I have already decided my path and will start doing what is required of me to progress along it.
I, believing your article has been a great supplement to my writing-sleep deprived-and-delerious-catharsis, thanking you, stay this comment.
Maniacally and implacably,
Evactive@aol.com
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I’m glad I could be of help, Evactive.
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Slowly human nature is changing .
Australia was declared by the British Empire to be ‘terra nullis’ an empty land . If that had been proclaimed in the local dialect it would have been considered very rude.
It is the concept of government that is failing us. Everything is an aggregate of human actions , the individual must stay responsible for his own. Effecting change is simple in nature , but complex in total. If individuals choose not to work in the factories producing weapons then there is no weapons industry . Naive , idealistic , yes . Very necessary for humans to survive – yes.
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I agree with the theory of your premise, Jonah. If all humans were educated in the proper sense of the word then they could and would operate as independent, rational entities and not engage in activities or actions which threaten peace, etc.
But alas, that is not the reality!
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There is a growing awareness that the well-being of others is also our well-being. Thinking people know that climate change, like nuclear war, will affect all of us. And if not us today, then our children tomorrow.
At least in Europe,but also in lots of other places, religious participation is on the decline. Values and morality are increasingly based upon basic human rights and emotional intelligence rather than determined by theology or the sword.
Other forces, such as ‘our nice’ multi-national corporations often are a law unto themselves: for them the end justifies the means. I’m referring to the Halliburton’s and the oil and the weapon manufacturers.
How can we bring them to account and respect basic human rights?
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Thanks for calling by, Ben. I’ve tried to deal with this in my post about Corporations on the main page. We have total power over the existence of all Corporations if only we were to join together and use it (don’t buy their products, don’t work for them, don’t buy their shares, etc).
If we leave it to their conscience we’ll wait a long time!
Cheers.
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I wish I could be more optomistic. It will take a mutation or extermination and rebirth of what we call a human.
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I’m afraid I agree but not because it couldn’t be done by genetic engineering, but because the ‘Believers’ would never allow it! Cheers.
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