'Human beings are born with good nature' - Do you agree?

@poohgal (6845)
Singapore
October 26, 2007 12:32pm CST
Hello there. There's a Chinese saying that goes 'Human beings are born with good nature'. Do you agree with this saying? Personally, I do not quite agree. I feel that we are born with both 'good' and 'bad' within us. The 'good' in us needs to be nurtured while the 'bad' in us needs to be tamed. It seems easier for most human beings to pick up the 'bad' than to learn the 'good'. Some of the 'bad' seems to come naturally. For instance, we were not taught to tell our first lie. LOL I could not remember the first lie I tell but I am quite sure no one taught me to. Everyday in our lives, since the day we were born, we were told and taught to do good. No one teaches us the bad things and yet, sometimes we do it. We are always taught the good things but yet, sometimes we do not do it. It's really an irony.
5 people like this
19 responses
• United States
26 Oct 07
I agree with you on everything you said
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
Thanks =D
@goodsign (2287)
• Malaysia
26 Oct 07
I agree with that motivation words for "Human Beings Are Born With Good Nature". What makes me agree is; because of that one word for "nature". And there is no word for 'naturally'. As human beings, we are naturally born with positive and negative traits to keep our living touch the level of comfort. Good nature is the equilibrium value between positive and negative traits value. The negative traits is to make human develops the world into more benefits to oneself and other human beings. Whereas positive traits is to control the level of aggressiveness on negative traits so that it will not go beyond the moderate margin. It just like the equilibrium between good person and bad person. Without the existence of bad person, good person will not think about to have higher security level to make good person live peacefully. So it makes good person to be very creative and innovative in preparing and develops the highest level of security. That is why in our life there are good people and bad people. Both parties generate the equilibrium and this particular practice is so called or having said as "Good Nature".
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
That's an interesting view. I learn something new today =D Thanks for responding.
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
26 Oct 07
I believe we are naturally good. Sometimes no one shows us what is bad and that's why it happens.But religion has got us so convinced that we're nothing but hideous, I think if we're taught more the good things in life to do and be, then our clearer nature will shine through.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
26 Oct 07
Hmm.. But if we are really born good, then why do we need to be taught the good. It should come naturally right? Thanks for responding. =D
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
12 Nov 07
I think also they are born with both. atleast scientifically. in genes there are both good and bad quality. it after birth and circumstances which makes a man/woman good or bad.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
12 Nov 07
I agree with you. Thanks for sharing. =D
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
yeah, u'r right in a way, poohgal ;) there are both good and bad within us.. but i believe there are more good than bad in us.. yes, bad things dun need to be taught to us but sunthings bad things can help ple too, like a white lie ;) everybody has got a bit of rebellious in them because we are not robots, we have feelings.. That's y at times we will try to do some things that parents or teachers frobid us to do.. LOL
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
LOL. Yea I guess the 'bad' in us do makes life interesting sometimes. It's quite boring if we always stick to rules. But I do not believe in white lies. I think lies are lies. No such things as white lies. It's a matter of time the other party will know the truth. Hiding it only makes things worse. It's better to know earlier than later. Thanks for responding. =D
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
haha.. depending on situation.. i also dun like white lies because by time u know the truth, everything is over and there's no more turning back ;) But a bit of bad inside us is also good, makes our life more fun and interesting and unpredictable.. haha
@hillock (749)
• Qatar
1 Nov 07
i agree that "Human beings are born with good nature." we dont have bad within us as u say. i think its the society that sets what is good and bad. so when u lied when your a little kid it doesnt mean that your bad. people just told you that lying is bad.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
1 Nov 07
Hmm.. ok. Thanks for sharing. =D
@hillock (749)
• Qatar
2 Nov 07
Your welcome!
@nandans (1160)
• India
27 Oct 07
Human beings are born good.. They become bad when they grow older and older..
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
Hmm. So you are saying that very old people are very bad? LOL Just joking. I know what you mean but there are also examples of people becoming better and better as they grow older. Thanks for responding. =D
• India
12 Nov 07
Hi my friend, i agree with this chinese saying.'humans beings are born with good nature'. Absolutely it is right.Ones character or behaviour determined by their living environment.Society plays a key role in building his character.nature,attitude,behaviour,customs,politeness,manners all should be teach at home.All should be behaves in society according to their behaviour at home. Happy myloting.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
12 Nov 07
Thanks for responding. Happy mylotting too. =D
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
27 Oct 07
We all have good in us when we are born and we all have bad in us when we are born. Now its what you do with it that matters. And thats what the chinese saying means.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
I must admit my understanding of that Chinese saying is not deep enough. It's from a great man but I cannot remember his name. What you say makes sense. Thanks for sharing. =D
@Mitraa (3184)
• India
3 Nov 07
You see poohgal, good and bad as we call or apprhend them are the naturally occuring concepts within us. Whatever suits well to our living, is good or otherwise it is bad as we believe. Nature bears these as neither good nor bad things in it. There is a saying, "Onr person's meat is other persons's poison." Hence we can very well confirm that all these good or bad ones are quite relative in practice. So there is not much to be worried about this. Of course, we must always have to follow certain social and moral rules for our well and healthy social life. No negociation can be made in it where-ever we may reside. Since honesty is the best policy, we must always be well careful to do good and be good for others as a civilized person. Thanks for this nice topic.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Nov 07
I agree with you. Thanks for your thorough analysis too. =D
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
28 Oct 07
ha ha ha... "ren xin ben shan" eh? I do not totally agree with it as well. I share the same believes as you with regards to this saying. We are all born with good and bad in us. It is the dominant side of these two that makes us who we are. Life is a constant struggle to balance these two traits in us. It is a matter of how conscious we are of the two traits that determines how we behave. Good or bad, I guess it is all predetermined to some certain extend. Discovery channel had a documentary featuring twins and triplets. Even within the first few weeks of being formed, the fetus already is showing character traits that was observable within the womb! And these traits continue to show even when the child is born. Amazing isn't it?
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
29 Oct 07
Yea. Life is amazing especially if you witness it from within the womb. I would love to watch that documentary too. It sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing. =D
@topei12 (272)
• Philippines
2 Nov 07
I think human by nature is good, however, there's so much that might influence or affect that nature causing us to be or to do bad. But it seems even without such influence we can still be bad. For example, in our house we tell kids not to lie, and yet they lie. I don't think lying is something you can teach or something you can imitate. Nevertheless, we have to nurture our good side and battle our bad nature.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
2 Nov 07
Yup. Life is a constant nurturing of 'good' and battling of 'bad'. Thanks for sharing. =D
• India
27 Oct 07
every human being is innocent when he is born..a lot depends on the way he is brought up....so its upto us to be the way v want to b in the future....if v develop our good character then its good...some develop bad characters when they grow up....so its all a choice in the end....
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
What you say is definitely true. What we become in the future is largely dependent on the environment we live in and the choices we make in our lives. Thanks for sharing. =D
@Unl3ashed (110)
• Belgium
10 Nov 07
i do believe that humans are born to do good and that every human has been born with the intention to do good. it doesn't always turn out that way because of some traumatic events perhaps. but basicly humans have the urge to do good and to trust people. elseway people wouldn't be falling ion love and have children (because in the end the goal of humanity is to be productive and the survive and bee the striongest cause after all, we are still animals)
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
10 Nov 07
Hmm.. Some people fall in love too easily and they also change their heart easily. This results in many broken hearts. I understand what you are trying to say but I do not exactly agree. The fact that we are animals make us competitive (as only the fittest survives). The competitiveness in us make some of us do bad things. I believe there's both good and bad in us. What we become ultimately depends on which we choose to be. We have a choice to be good and also to be bad. It's completely up to us. Thanks for sharing.
26 Oct 07
I guess we all born with a animal soul that is educated by the patterns of the society...
• United States
26 Oct 07
You're right. I believe this happens because no one is perfect. If we were perfect we wouldn't make mistakes or do bad things.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
Yes. I agree. Thanks for responding. =D
@lucky_witch (2707)
• Philippines
26 Oct 07
Yes I believe that human being are born good by nature. We don not think of anything bad when we are kids because we dont know what is right and wrong. At that age we do something silly without the intention to hurt. WE just realize it as we started to observe things around us. Sometimes the environment where we live, the family that keeps us, the society and culture affects what we are when we grow up.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
Good point. I never taught about the 'intention' before. It's true that very young kids do certain things without the intention to hurt. They do not even know it hurts others. However, I feel some kids mature very young and some of the things they do can be quite mean and they know it themselves. Thanks for responding. =D
@baterya (53)
• Philippines
26 Oct 07
i agree
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
Thanks for agreeing. =D
@Ministry (70)
• Norway
26 Oct 07
I think most people will act accordingly to whatever society they're in because it is the most benificial for them. That being not commiting any crimes and such. When it comes down to survival, I think most people in desperate times will turn to acts that might possibly make them "bad".
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Oct 07
True indeed. We are all self centered in one way or another. Whatever things we do are based on whether is it beneficial to us. Thanks for responding. =D