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The concept of human nature focuses on the distinctive natural characteristics of humans, namely the ways we feel, think and act, regardless of external forces as well as influences. Within the study and discipline of Philosophy, this fundamental nature of humans and our existence is scrutinized. Philosophy involves a continuous search and lookout for an accurate understanding of the underlying traits of humankind that are deemed to be common among all humans. Starting with the ancient philosophers and ending with the contemporary thinkers, a bridge of suppositions that seemingly define human nature has been established, despite the fact that there are vital differences. Numerous conjectures and theories have been put forward by philosophers of medieval, religious, conservative, liberal, rationalist, empiricist, idealist, realist and lastly contemporary thought. From the Bible's views, Aristotle's approach, the Hindu's and Buddhist’s beliefs, Conservative's and Liberal's opinions to the existentialist's and contemporary Kantian notion, the elucidation and overall description of human nature has evolved and expanded with the numerous conceptions of the various philosophers from differing periods in time. Simply put, humans are enigmas and since the beginning of humankind, individuals have yearned for answers concerning our variant attributes. Nevertheless, one philosopher, by the name of Immanuel Kant cannot be classified solely as religious, a realist, conservative or rational, as he seemingly wanted to move past the conventional polychotomy and his ideologies were representative of modern, Enlightened philosophy – a combined product of the numerous views of human nature proposed by his predecessors.

The convictions of Kant in ...

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...es and mere perception, Kant emphasizes the fact that reality is incomprehensible to human beings and no matter what we do, we will never be able to capture the true essence of anything because of restraints on the human mind. With this being said, there is no concrete definition of human nature and this substantiates the fact that philosophy in its entirety is elusive. Human nature is indefinable and no matter how much we experience, we will never be able to fully grasp the essence of reality or a thing as it is in itself, as suggested by Kant. We are only able to explore our own faculties and become deep thinkers, expanding our minds while doing so. Philosophy and our search for answers about ourselves and our surroundings enables us to use and take into account the various characteristics assigned to humankind by the numerous philosophers throughout the ages.