Oh dear, this has caused a crisis in my thinking. Or to pull from one of your other writings (https://ralphammer.com/is-philosophy-useless/), it has caused me to rethink one of my arguments! I have always gone with the theory that people are essentially good but your logic takes me to a place that doesn't work for me. Because I also believe that all change must come from within ourselves.
So, the question for me is whether I agree with this statement:
"If we assume that humans are inherently good, then all our troubles can be attributed to the environment."
Is that true? I'm not so sure. Humans can be inherently good but also flawed. And if this is true, it would follow that these flawed humans will make mistakes and it is these mistakes that have caused problems for society.
I guess this is what I believe. Er, this is my "argument" is for now....
So grateful for your Work. 🙏🏼 Philosophy interests mii deeply. But somehow. Never imagined it could be so so deeply delightful! Thanks again. 🌻 warmest for 2025.
This makes me think that humans are born with predispositions rather than with ‘fixed' natures; a dynamic perspective that can better account for the infinite range of possibilities of ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ in people. Although I don’t practice Catholicism, their assumption of God’s providing humans with free will, to be good or bad, may align with this thought: we can be as good or as bad as we want, we have all the substance to become whoever we want to be.
Fantastic read Ralph, thanks for sharing
Oh dear, this has caused a crisis in my thinking. Or to pull from one of your other writings (https://ralphammer.com/is-philosophy-useless/), it has caused me to rethink one of my arguments! I have always gone with the theory that people are essentially good but your logic takes me to a place that doesn't work for me. Because I also believe that all change must come from within ourselves.
So, the question for me is whether I agree with this statement:
"If we assume that humans are inherently good, then all our troubles can be attributed to the environment."
Is that true? I'm not so sure. Humans can be inherently good but also flawed. And if this is true, it would follow that these flawed humans will make mistakes and it is these mistakes that have caused problems for society.
I guess this is what I believe. Er, this is my "argument" is for now....
So grateful for your Work. 🙏🏼 Philosophy interests mii deeply. But somehow. Never imagined it could be so so deeply delightful! Thanks again. 🌻 warmest for 2025.
This makes me think that humans are born with predispositions rather than with ‘fixed' natures; a dynamic perspective that can better account for the infinite range of possibilities of ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ in people. Although I don’t practice Catholicism, their assumption of God’s providing humans with free will, to be good or bad, may align with this thought: we can be as good or as bad as we want, we have all the substance to become whoever we want to be.