The Duality of Human Nature: Choice and Existence

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Have you ever told a lie before? Why did you do it? Does it make you evil, and if so were you born that way? Are humans predestined to be either good or evil, is it simply our nature? The idea that all humans have an innate way about them isn’t uncommon, though there are many different philosophies on the topic. Upon examining the different ideas I figure it is our ability to make choices and live existentially that makes human nature a combination of both the good and bad. Rather, being based off of one of the six views, we live from an existential standpoint and are composed of those we have chosen.

Humans are essentially free to do whatever it is that they desire. From radical liberal to conservative or even something as simple as Coke or Pepsi we hold the power of decision making. We choose what it is we eat, do and believe …show more content…

With a rationalist view in mind do humans choose to be good? Do they choose to be evil? What are the intentions behind a singular person 's actions? Humans are the only beings that actually have the ability to purposely make conscious choices with justifiable intentions. The human ability to be rational and our possession of intellect puts a purpose behind every decision we make. So with this power to choose between one thing and another it is very much possible to say that humans can choose to be good or evil.

Freud’s theory of psychological egoism also says we have the ability to make decisions, though our thought process is what ultimately restricts us. The id, which we all possess, is our most primal wants and desires, yet we don 't necessarily act on what the id tells us to act on. Our ego and super ego, helps us to differentiate between right and wrong. We choose to listen to this part of our mind that tells us our actions have consequences and stealing is wrong. One could easily do these things anyway if they wanted, choosing to ignore their

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