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anshugupta84
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Human nature dictates that every action, no matter how selfless it appears, is inspired by a selfish reason.
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the above opinion. Support your position with reasons and examples from your own experience, observations of others, or reading.
My essay:
The author states that human nature is such every action breeding out of it is inspired by a selfish reason. I strongly disagree with this statement. One of the definitions of selfish is to do something for the self, which translates the authors statement into saying that humans perform every action based on their individual self. This may not be true in many cases. Firstly, the human pschye is so different that it can work at various levels. Humans may be selfish on certain occasions and not so on others. Secondly, human nature also includes characteristics like giving and sharing. Some humans have a greater degree of these characteristics and often perform selfless acts, like volunteer work, caring for orphans or animals or fighting for the freedom of a nation. Thirdly, many humans coexist or live in groups or families. Such interdependence leads to a selfless environment where members of the group tend of share their personal belongings, emotions or services with others in the group. Like families where parents may provide for the children. Such an act is not necessarily selfish as it is not benefiting the self or the individual in any way.
Firstly, it is important to look at various ways in which the human mind works. Humans are driven by emotions on various occasions. At times when someone is happy or satisfied in life he or she may wish to act in a selfless manner. On other occasions when the same person is struggling, he or she may be bitter towards society in general and act in a selfish manner. Therefore we cannot generalize and conclude that humans acts are inspired by selfish reasons. This may or may not be true depending on the state of the individual.
Secondly, the human nature also includes characteristics like giving and sharing. Such characteristics are normally selfless. For example, people who volunteer to work for old age homes or orphans or injured animals are often performing such acts for selfless reasons. Moreover, a lot of leaders in the history of the world have fought for the freedom of their nations without anticipating any control or power. They were perhaps driven by their selfless motives and some are known to have sacrificed their lives as well. An action where an individual sacrifices his or her life for the others cannot be necessarily inspired by selfish reasons.
Thirdly, some humans are known to coexist in groups, tribes or families. Such coexistence often leads to interdependence on the members of the group. In families for example, parents often provide for their children up to a certain age. If an individual provides for his or her offspring it cannot be considered selfish because it is not an act which benefits the self. The moral and family responsibilities also become a part of the human nature in such cases and encourages them to perform more selfless acts.
In conclusion, it is generalist in nature to say that human acts are inspired by selfish reasons. This statement can be modified by saying that depending on situations, coexistence and the nature of particular human beings, some can be selfish while some may not. It is true that humans often act selfishly however, this cannot be a generalization for all humans.
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the above opinion. Support your position with reasons and examples from your own experience, observations of others, or reading.
My essay:
The author states that human nature is such every action breeding out of it is inspired by a selfish reason. I strongly disagree with this statement. One of the definitions of selfish is to do something for the self, which translates the authors statement into saying that humans perform every action based on their individual self. This may not be true in many cases. Firstly, the human pschye is so different that it can work at various levels. Humans may be selfish on certain occasions and not so on others. Secondly, human nature also includes characteristics like giving and sharing. Some humans have a greater degree of these characteristics and often perform selfless acts, like volunteer work, caring for orphans or animals or fighting for the freedom of a nation. Thirdly, many humans coexist or live in groups or families. Such interdependence leads to a selfless environment where members of the group tend of share their personal belongings, emotions or services with others in the group. Like families where parents may provide for the children. Such an act is not necessarily selfish as it is not benefiting the self or the individual in any way.
Firstly, it is important to look at various ways in which the human mind works. Humans are driven by emotions on various occasions. At times when someone is happy or satisfied in life he or she may wish to act in a selfless manner. On other occasions when the same person is struggling, he or she may be bitter towards society in general and act in a selfish manner. Therefore we cannot generalize and conclude that humans acts are inspired by selfish reasons. This may or may not be true depending on the state of the individual.
Secondly, the human nature also includes characteristics like giving and sharing. Such characteristics are normally selfless. For example, people who volunteer to work for old age homes or orphans or injured animals are often performing such acts for selfless reasons. Moreover, a lot of leaders in the history of the world have fought for the freedom of their nations without anticipating any control or power. They were perhaps driven by their selfless motives and some are known to have sacrificed their lives as well. An action where an individual sacrifices his or her life for the others cannot be necessarily inspired by selfish reasons.
Thirdly, some humans are known to coexist in groups, tribes or families. Such coexistence often leads to interdependence on the members of the group. In families for example, parents often provide for their children up to a certain age. If an individual provides for his or her offspring it cannot be considered selfish because it is not an act which benefits the self. The moral and family responsibilities also become a part of the human nature in such cases and encourages them to perform more selfless acts.
In conclusion, it is generalist in nature to say that human acts are inspired by selfish reasons. This statement can be modified by saying that depending on situations, coexistence and the nature of particular human beings, some can be selfish while some may not. It is true that humans often act selfishly however, this cannot be a generalization for all humans.
