1. English 12B Mrs. Malaspino

2. Philosophical Naturalism: Humans are purely natural phenomena, sophisticated beings which have evolved into our present state. Good and evil are mere labels placed on how well individual behavior conforms to societal expectations.

3. Western Religions Include Christianity, Judaism, and Islam Humans are spiritual beings created by God/Jehovah/Allah and in a continued relationship with their creator. Good and evil are defined in terms of how well human beings conform to God’s character or God’s law. Christian doctrine of “original sin” states that human beings are inherently corrupt because of the sins of Adam and Eve. Human nature is in constant spiritual battle between good and evil.

4. Polytheistic Religions Human beings are citizens in a world inhabited by other intelligent spiritual beings. Human evil is often regarded as the result of supernatural influences.

5. Pantheistic Religions Include Buddhism, Hinduism, and other forms of Eastern philosophy. Regard humanity as existing within God or as part of the divine cosmos. Human evil is usually regarded as the result of ignorance of this universal Divine nature.

6. Social/Biological Determinism Human behavior is determined by biological and social factors. Inherent human instincts are not truly to blame for actions considered “bad” or truly credited for actions considered “good.”

7. John Locke 17 th century English philosopher Humans are inherently good. Humans in their natural state have perfect freedom to act according to the laws of nature.

8. Thomas Hobbes 17 th Century English Philisopher Humans are inherently in a “war of all against all.” In the state of nature, life is “nasty, brutish, and short.” State of nature is remedied by good government.

9. Pelagius 4 th century Welsh monk Humans are fully capable of choosing good or evil.

10. Bertrand Russell 20 th Century British philosopher Moral evil or sin is actually derived from instincts transmitted to us from our ancestry of beasts of prey.

11. John Locke 17 th Century English Philosopher Human nature is tabula rasa (a blank slate). Rules for right and wrong are formed solely by our experiences.

12. Jean Jacques Rousseau 18 th Century Swiss Philosopher Man is innocent when is in the state of nature, but is corrupted by society. Humans in the state of nature may act with all of the ferocity of an animal. Humans are good because they are self- sufficient and thus not subject to the vices of political society.

13. Karl Marx 19 th Century German Philosopher Human character depends entirely on socialization and experience. People are influenced and, in part, determined by their environments.