Human Nature Essay

Human Nature Essay

Are humans naturally good or naturally evil? Humans can be both, but what matters is what they decide to be. Some people believe humans are naturally bad while others believe they are naturally good. The thing is though that one can’t exist without the other, as Jessica Shirvington says “maybe it’s not as clear-cut as that. Maybe it’s the very presence of one thing – light or darkness – that necessitates the existence of the other. Think about it, people couldn’t become legendary heroes if they hadn’t first done something to combat darkness. Doctors could do no good if there weren’t diseases for them to treat.” There are many great points that could argue either side, but the truth is that people are naturally good.

People fight for others rights and freedoms, sometimes no matter the costs. For example Cesar Chavez fought for fair pay and treatment, like breaks and bathrooms in the fields, for immigrants working in the fields in California. He did this through protest, and boycotting. Another person who fought for people's rights was Martin Luther King Jr. He fought for the end of segregation and racial discrimination in America, and many other rights that had been taken from blacks, like the right to vote. He did this through protest, marches, speeches, and boycotting. He was killed for what doing what he believed was right. So many others have stood up for people’s rights like Malala, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. Also so many have lost their lives for standing up for others like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers... Others have been imprisoned or shot (but not killed) like Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, Russell Maroon Shoatz, and many more.

Some people not only fight for others, but they also put others lives before their own. For example soldiers put their lives on the line and go through traumatic events to protect not only their country but their family and friends. Another example can be found in the book Insurgent. The main character, Tris, gives herself up to Erudite so that no more innocent people would die at the hands of Jeanine Matthews. Also in the book Cured Kevin volunteers to take Jacqui’s place in the throat- ripping experiment so that Jacqui would live, even though he knew he didn’t even have a chance of surviving against the dogs injected with the bee virus to make them more violent.

Some people make sure others are well before even considering themselves. For example in Night, Elie’s uncle brings him a ration of food to make sure that he stayed strong. Another example is in the book Cured when Jacqui gives Kevin a cup of applesauce because she sees that he is starving although that is probably the last cup they have.

So many people have stood up for others and put others before them. Everyone looks at the negative side of things. Like how the only reason all those great people who have or are standing up for others is because of the people who were evil enough to put others in that situation. There are so many evil people in the world but there are also so many good people in it to. People are bad because of something bad that has happened to them or because of a situational force like Philip Zimbardo said “the line between good and evil is permeable and almost everyone can be induced to cross it when pressured by situational forces.” Most people do things because they believe it is right. Islamic extremist believe that it is right because they think that they are doing what their religion tells them to. So remember there is always a reason for someone being evil, people are not just naturally evil, humans are naturally good.