Exploring the Concept of Human Nature

In order to say that humanity is a cohesive species there needs to be more tying it together then simply biology. There needs to be a common core among the species as a whole. This common core defines the way that the species behaves, what motivates them, how they feel, and their characteristics. This commonality among humans is known as human nature. Throughout this paper I will discuss what human nature is, what it means to go against human nature, and whether a common human nature actually exists.

The textbook defines human nature as “the common core to the human experience”. This vague statement is merely an overview of what human nature is. It refers to the fact that human nature is a commonality between all humans that unites human life and makes a common “human experience”. Human nature refers to all things believed to be shared by all of

However, there are some who argue that human nature itself does not exist, but instead we create our own nature or essence. The debate about the existence of human nature is supported by a handful of philosophers including Richard Rorty. Rorty claims that “there is nothing to people except what has been socialized into them… Simply by being human we do not have a common bond”. What Rorty is arguing is that society influences us to the point that there is a commonality observed between humans. This commonality though is not intrinsic, but instead it is a societal construct. This argument can explain how what is believed to be human nature is not always universal and changes with time., a concept that is believed by some philosophers. Moreover, a lack of human nature would explain why some people go against what is believed to be human nature. This would solve the problem of if there is a common core to all of humanity how is it possible for one to defy it. If the common core does not exist then there is nothing to