The Truth Behind Human Nature - 1336 Words

The Truth Behind Human Nature In Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories, Nathaniel Hawthorne develops his characters based on the belief that all humans were evil beings. From this, his view of human nature is revealed: all humans are immoral because of their sins. Though he created these personas through this idea, he also leaves them with a bit of humanity. In a way, Hawthorne presents many of his characters with the same traits said by an English novelist and author, Graham Greene: â€Å"Goodness has only found a perfect incarnation in a human body and never will again, but evil can always find a home there. Human nature is not black and white but black and gray.† Human will only show temporary acts of kindness because of a person’s natural tendency to sin. As a result of these actions, no one can achieve the title of being â€Å"white,† or truly pure and innocent. Overall, from the perspective of both authors, human nature is often viewed as â€Å"black,† or evil and â€Å"gr ay,† or a combination of good and evil. The first short story that explores Hawthorne’s view of human nature is â€Å"Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment.† The readers are introduced to Dr. Heidegger, and â€Å"three white-bearded gentlemen, Mr. Medbourne, Colonel Killigrew, and Mr. Gascoigne, and a withered gentlewoman, whose name was the Widow Wycherly,† (Hawthorne ). The author talks about the unfortunate events that happened to Heidegger’s guests. After that, he asks the four for their cooperation in his experiment with waterShow MoreRelatedExplain The Six Chief Characteristics Of Philosophy1269 Words   |  6 PagesThe main goal behind philosophy is to seek the deepest, and most detailed truth behind everything in the universe. Many different concepts such as relativism attempt to disprove the truth that philosophy attempts to pursue. To understand what it means for philosophy to pursue truth, we must first understand the nature of philosophy, or what philosophy really is. To understand the nature of philosophy, we must look at the six chief characteristics of philosophy. The six chief characteristics of philosophyRead MoreWestern Views On Human Nature918 Words   |  4 PagesEastern Human Nature In our quest for wisdom, the question of human nature is still up to debate. Many philosophers ranging from Socrates to Buddha has questioned the nature of human life and of our existence. But these philosophers do not share the same beliefs about our nature. Their beliefs are as different as their place of origin. Socrates’ own philosophy may not be the same as an eastern philosopher such as the Buddha. In western philosophy there is often a focus on the individual in theRead MorePlato vs. Nietzsche1140 Words   |  5 Pagesmainly focused on is where we as humans stand between these two. 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He must decide if he will carry his journey out till the end, or turn back and not learn the truth about himself and other humans. The story Young GoodmanRead MoreThe Debate On Sex Ethics Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesdeclaration strongly asserts that moral reasoning is not a human construct, but rather it comes from God. God is all-knowing and all-good as his plan for salvation was conceived in â€Å"wisdom and love† (Pope Paul VI). God delivered Christ to humanity to save humans from evil, and those who follow Christ will â€Å"walk in the light of life†(Pope Paul VI). Christ established the Church, and the church is the pillar of truth, and transmits the truth of morality without falsification (Pope Paul VI). So, throughRead Moremere christianity852 Words   |  4 Pageslife-changing introduction to the Christian faith ever written. This book is based on C.S. Lewis’s broadcast radio talks in the BBC around the time of the war years. 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Despite the differences, the Christian attitude concerning the culture is consistentRead More Exposing the Falseness of Truth in On the Nature of the Universe1225 Words   |  5 PagesExposing the Falseness of Truth in On the Nature of the Universe  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Truth is in the eye of the beholder. Or is it? Questions regarding the nature of truth have always been central to not only philosophers, but all men (and women, of course) who possess any desire for knowledge. For while truth itself is an elusive concept, it is also the underlying theme of all science -- which is the basis of knowledge -- and so the seeker of learning must first discover his own truth about the world; withoutRead MoreHow Plato Uses the Myth of the Cave Essay896 Words   |  4 PagesHow Plato Uses the Myth of the Cave Could reality be the greatest special effect of all time? Since the 6th century B.C.E a growth in human knowledge and understanding had occurred and people began to question the world rd they lived in, these people were called philosophers. Thales, Anaximander, Anaximines, Pythagoras, Heraclitus and Socrates were all highly regarded intellectuals but one mans thoughts on the world stood out. Plato is probablyRead MoreThe, By Plato And St. Augustine1327 Words   |  6 PagesPlato and St. Augustine, share similar stages, showing how the act of loving beautiful bodies morphs into the love of the soul of another human, which transforms into a love of knowledge, and finally culminates in an enlightened state. However, Augustine’s ascent illustrates how Platonists fail to realize their rise places too much value in loving another human and sees beauty as its own form, instead of a representation of a higher power. Platonists miss the crucial understanding that their advancement