Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:20:32 +0100

Everyone feels the need to survive - the survival instinct.

Survival sometimes requires Violence. In those situations Violence is Natural - look at any animal (humans are animals too, we are just a bit fatter and more stupid).

Violence for other uses is not natural and not necessary.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:04:13 +0100

It seems that violence is a part of our nature and has been since the first hominid. Watch two small children react when one wants something the other child wants, although bonobos appear to have replaced any tendencies towards violent behavior by having frequent sex. I feel that it is only through education that we learn to overcome our tendencies for violence.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:50:42 +0100

Ralph P, I was being optimistic of humanity's abitlity to rise above animalistic nature.

Violence in selfdefence I consider humane.
Violence as an imposition is humans going wrong.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:16:52 +0100

healing zero, what do you mean humane? What is it about violence that categorizes it as not human nature when humans do commit acts of violence? If you were to say that humans can preform anything outside of their nature how would you decide what is and what isn't human nature?

I believe that human nature is defined by what humans do. Humans preform violent acts. Therefore, violence is part of human nature.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:20:47 +0100

I don't think this questions is that complicated. I'm going to take the simplistic approach and say that since human beings are capable of ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and have proven so, yes..it is human nature to be violent.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:35:30 +0100

No. I think human nature is to be humane.
I think violence occurs when humans go wrong.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:35:05 +0100

Its human nature in the fact that we are animals, we were meant to hunt for food and fight over land and mates. We only find violence morally wrong because we have been told for hundreds of years by our parents and mentors violence is not the way. Violence only spreads more violence because we unlike normal animals have feelings such as remorse, jealousy and rage. If humanity can in essence take away its human emotions then there would be no war. But ask yourself this if it isnt human nature then why do we have internal struggles and most of us fight with ourselves to keep our inner demons at bay. Violence is like inner darkness or inner light, some people can live better in the light some cant. Just as some can live better at peace and others in war. Humanities boundaries are limitless only when we truly have figured out what each of us as an individual is capable of do we know our own human nature. So the correct question is your own nature violent or not

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:08:48 +0100

I suppose that by "human nature" you refer to the existence of some part of the human brain that controls the human to go through with a certain action. By "violence" I suppose you refer to any kind of physical violence. The nature of humans differs based on the position of the human. Humans preform violent actions everyday not in order to simply go through with a violent action but because of some kind of emotional issue. Humans do have emotions that give them an urge to preform violent actions. So, based on the position of most known humans, violence and/or violent thoughts are a part of human nature. This is a strange way to look a situation, though. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "nature". "Human nature" seems to be a term ofter used to excuse something.

Yes, humans can preform violent actions! Are you suggesting that humans go through actions that aren't of their nature?!?! You live in America. Turn on the T.V. and you can see violence.

Who can point me in the direction of the productive conversations?

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:20:21 +0100

Hello everyone.
I think that human nature is a concept which is impossible of define and categorize. Any person has the potencial to be anything that wants.
I won't denny the importance of the enviroment were the person is raised, the family or the friends...
Well, what I'm trying to mean is: the human being when borns is a tabula rasa, where in the first minute the society and the enviroment begins to written and influence the person.

My Conclusion is: in a genetic level I' believe that certain persons have a major propension to violence, but I think that diference is not what says if a person is violent or not.
The major factors, for me, are the society and enviroment where person is raised.

Thanks. My first time.
Sorry about the poor english.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:20:20 +0100

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:20:20 +0100

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:49:55 +0100

If I told you that your way of thinking was that of a retard! And left it at that you would more than likely click on my profile to either defend your self. or at least be courious as to who I am...this in it self is human nature...Im sure you will click on mine now anyway ...but violence can also be mental of course or verbal...but as humans we always react...and very rarely ignore...even small verbal threats...true violence usually is from escalation...

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:27:10 +0100

Violence itself is a relative term. The constant flux of creation and destruction is what determines a need for each term respectively. Without the contrast of peace, violence wouldn't be discussed - so there's no correct answer to your question.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:00:17 +0100

I think its a cop out to say that human nature is influenced by evolutionary processes or the unknowable nature of reality. These things may or may not be true, but because we are bound up in our perception of the world we can't know if they are or not.

An individuals nature is what he or she chooses it to be. This is impacted by an individuals surroundings certainly, but only by the things he or she has perceived. We make choices in the situations that we encounter. These choices define us, give us our "nature."

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:18:12 +0100

Yes. But there's no reason we can't change that.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:51:42 +0100

I think it depends on who you look at. Were evolving towards specific jobs in a sense our hunters are becoming better hunters and farmers, better farmers. A warrior is going to be more violent and know how to control that violence more than a farmer. We learn to use our natural instincts better with practice.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:04:38 +0100

O Nameless One, the president of my alma mater, Dr. Bevan Morris, supports your view completely. Check out his video on Lao Tsu (fourth row, third column on the webpage) at http://www.mum.edu/videos.html

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:29:33 +0100

Very interesting Rajarr,

I have not been trained in the Vedic tradition but my experiences align perfectly with what you have just said.

The universal truth permeates through an infinite number of languages and traditions ;-)

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:50:22 +0100

From the Vedic Tradition: Violence is born of fear and fear is born of duality, i.e., the sense of Me and You as independent (and therefore potentially opposed) realities. In Unity Consciousness (Yoga) one knows, I am all that there is--one Self is the self of all. No duality, no fear, no violence.

Comment on: Is it human nature to be violent?

Bigthink — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:09:48 +0100

Extremes meet at both ends.

Extreme passive behaviour suddenly becomes Extreme aggressive behaviour, then passive once again (the cycle continues).

Balance must be found to become "assertive".
Daily Martial Arts training and discipline, along with philosophy and study of the Tao Te Ching should help produce a balance with the guidance of the right Master...