I think human nature is very adaptable. There are certain instinctual identities with one’s family, with one’s tribe, with one’s co-religionists. But that doesn’t necessarily translate into decency toward the other, however that’s defined, even if the other is your next door neighbor. And I think the challenge for the human rights movement is to overcome what are countervailing tendencies toward treating that other as the enemy; as a lesser human being; as somebody who can be used purely instrumentally; who doesn’t have to be treated with respect; who can be killed if necessary. That is also an element of human nature. And I think our task is to expand the concept of community sufficiently so that people are willing to treat large numbers of people with the basic respect that rights require, ideally at a global level – which is not easy because it’s hard to speak of the global community in any meaningful sense. But that obviously is the goal, so that all of us act as if everyone on earth has the entitlement to these same basic rights. But I don’t think that that in any sense is a natural inclination. It’s a possibility, one that needs to be nurtured by building up public morality; building up public expectations about behavior; building up institutions that reinforce those instincts or behavior, and gradually getting to the point where we can, with greater degrees of dependability and expectations, see people live and treat each other with respect for these basic rights. But it by no means is an inevitability.
Recorded on: 8/14/07
Discuss
Elizabeth Barnwell on January 21, 2008, 1:05 PM
I agree that it is both an instinctual and learned behavior. It is also something more. Human nature is the very essence of what drives us. It is that thing that both connects us to and separates us from the natural world. We have a tendency to view ourselves as being superior to nature, as being its master. Yet, we also have an innate desire to belong and when we are "out in nature" we seem to find our place in the natural world. Those that are able to adapt are the ones who will generally succeed.
The same is true of civilization. People tend to view themselves as superior to others. We have a natural competitiveness that tends to both propel us towards and repel us away from each other.
Elizabeth Barnwell on January 21, 2008, 6:05 PM
I agree that it is both an instinctual and learned behavior. It is also something more. Human nature is the very essence of what drives us. It is that thing that both connects us to and separates us from the natural world. We have a tendency to view ourselves as being superior to nature, as being its master. Yet, we also have an innate desire to belong and when we are “out in nature” we seem to find our place in the natural world. Those that are able to adapt are the ones who will generally succeed.
The same is true of civilization. People tend to view themselves as superior to others. We have a natural competitiveness that tends to both propel us towards and repel us away from each other.
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or Register