What is human nature?

[Gem]

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Yep, that is true, like I said, find out for yourself.

You do it, I'm busy.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Gem

You do it, I'm busy.

He He, I have already done it.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by psychoslice

He He, I have already done it.

Why ask me to do it then?

I mean Tell me to.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Gem

Why ask me to do it then?

I mean Tell me to.

Because you are a naughty boy, and you need to be told.

Originally Posted by Gem

I was reading some Foucault who says that all reality is socially constructed and that there;s no such thing as human nature.

I tend to agree with this. Society reaches a definition of human nature e.g. the general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans. This reads like a consensus. The word 'general' and 'all' here indicate what may fall outside this definition. Not all humans would want to become a monk or nun, or be a murderer either.
So "human nature" is a generalised term only?

Let me broaden the question: what is nature? If we can define nature, is there any reason to make the distinction between nature and non-nature?

I don't see nature and human nature as the same thing at all. For instance, nature fits into ecology - we don't.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Because you are a naughty boy, and you need to be told.

You just used what I said about foucault to position yourself as preacher boy, and I don't like that, but if foucault is useless second hand news then what you say is too, by the same token.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by amy green

I tend to agree with this. Society reaches a definition of human nature e.g. the general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans. This reads like a consensus. The word 'general' and 'all' here indicate what may fall outside this definition. Not all humans would want to become a monk or nun, or be a murderer either.
So "human nature" is a generalised term only?

It's how people perceive things in context of social norms, but normalcies aren't true, and even if they are, they weren't in the past, and won't be true in the future, what's normal here is not normal in another culture... it all changes and humans adapt, or if not, humans adapt the environment so that they can stay the same.

Originally Posted by Gem

It's how people perceive things in context of social norms, but normalcies aren't true, and even if they are, they weren't in the past, and won't be true in the future, what's normal here is not normal in another culture... it all changes and humans adapt, or if not, humans adapt the environment so that they can stay the same.

....(don't faint! A rare moment!)