insert_namehere
03-18-2007, 01:14 PM
“Is humankind inherently good or inherently bad?”
Author Anthony Burgess posited the question in various guises in a number of novels (most noticeably in “The Wanting Seed”). It’s a simple question, but philosophically, its’ a handy litmus test on what sort of society one feels is “best” for people.
Augustine of Hippo argued that mankind was inherently bad (original sin) and therefore required a social structure that would lead the individual into goodness.
Pelagius denied the concept of original sin and felt that humanity was born in a state of grace and required protection from “badness”. (Yes, that sentence has horrible construction due to my reticence to use the term “evil”)
The outcome of either position when pushed to its’ extreme is succinctly delineated in this quatrain:
Northern winds blow cold and bleak
Southern winds run balmy
Augustinians love police
Pelagians love an army
For myself, I’ve found this to be a handy question to pose to folks in order to an idea of their general worldview. Its’ surprising how this simple question tends to predicate a number of other positions.
So, how’d you vote?
Author Anthony Burgess posited the question in various guises in a number of novels (most noticeably in “The Wanting Seed”). It’s a simple question, but philosophically, its’ a handy litmus test on what sort of society one feels is “best” for people.
Augustine of Hippo argued that mankind was inherently bad (original sin) and therefore required a social structure that would lead the individual into goodness.
Pelagius denied the concept of original sin and felt that humanity was born in a state of grace and required protection from “badness”. (Yes, that sentence has horrible construction due to my reticence to use the term “evil”)
The outcome of either position when pushed to its’ extreme is succinctly delineated in this quatrain:
Northern winds blow cold and bleak
Southern winds run balmy
Augustinians love police
Pelagians love an army
For myself, I’ve found this to be a handy question to pose to folks in order to an idea of their general worldview. Its’ surprising how this simple question tends to predicate a number of other positions.
So, how’d you vote?