1. INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY Modern Novel

2. 5 Essential Questions 1. What will make humans happy? 2. Are human beings essentially good or evil? (benevolent or selfish?) 3. Are human beings responsible for their actions? 4. How do we determine right from wrong? 5. How should we live? (universal principles)

3. Question #2 Are human beings essentially good or evil? (benevolent or selfish?)

4. Born good or evil?

5. QW: Good or Evil? What do you think? What do you think? Is there such a thing as human nature? Is there such a thing as human nature? Are people born good? Evil? Neither? Both? Are people born good? Evil? Neither? Both? Give examples or tell a story to support your response. Give examples or tell a story to support your response.

6. React to each statement… Human beings are born evil—totally self- centered, prone to violence, devoid of human sympathy. Human beings are born evil—totally self- centered, prone to violence, devoid of human sympathy. Even in acts of apparent kindness, humans are basically responding to their own selfish needs. Even in acts of apparent kindness, humans are basically responding to their own selfish needs. People who give to charity do so for some selfish motive (tax write-off, recognition, feel good, etc.) People who give to charity do so for some selfish motive (tax write-off, recognition, feel good, etc.) If there were no laws, human society would resemble an animal state—brutal and nasty with survival of fittest reigning supreme. If there were no laws, human society would resemble an animal state—brutal and nasty with survival of fittest reigning supreme.

7. Egoism vs Altruism Thomas Hobbes vs Jean Rousseau

8. EGOISM “It’s all about me!” “It’s all about me!” Ego = self Ego = self Each person is only concerned about herself, her happiness, her survival Each person is only concerned about herself, her happiness, her survival We act ONLY out of self interest We act ONLY out of self interest

9. EGOISM We are BORN selfish/self-interested We are BORN selfish/self-interested –evil Laws are the only thing that keep our behavior in check Laws are the only thing that keep our behavior in check –for the good/protection of others

10. ALTRUISM We are born GOOD We are born GOOD We are naturally concerned about others We are naturally concerned about others Society corrupts us, makes us evil/selfish Society corrupts us, makes us evil/selfish Don’t need laws—we have an inherent concern for the good of others (society) Don’t need laws—we have an inherent concern for the good of others (society)

11. “Tabula Rasa” Perhaps humans are not born either good or evil. They start out as a blank slate and over time become more one way or the other.

12. Tabula Rasa: definition No built-in knowledge/content No built-in knowledge/content We learn everything from experience We learn everything from experience Favors the “nurture” side of the nature v. nature argument Favors the “nurture” side of the nature v. nature argument DETERMINISM DETERMINISM

13. Tabula Rasa: history Appeared as early as Aristotle, Stoics Appeared as early as Aristotle, Stoics St. Thomas Aquinas brought it back St. Thomas Aquinas brought it back Sigmund Freud continued experimenting Sigmund Freud continued experimenting John Locke John Locke

14. Tabula Rasa: opponents Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies –Golding’s view of man without laws Eugenics Eugenics –Isolating genes to explain/predict behavior Thomas Hobbes! Thomas Hobbes! –Egoism

15. WRAP-UP Are human beings born essentially good or evil? Are human beings born essentially good or evil? Cite examples from your experiences, books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, etc. Cite examples from your experiences, books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, etc. How might religion tie into this? How might religion tie into this? Connect this to the characters from East of Eden… Connect this to the characters from East of Eden…