During the holidays, the topic of human nature is always, at least implicitly. in the air. Obviously one could write whole tomes on the qualities of human nature (many, many, many have), but in its simplest form, I always felt that questions about that nature can be reduced to musings over the interactions of a few variables in any given context; reason, instinct (which encompassses everything from the instincts to run, to fight - and the instinct to communalism and altruism which we see it other primates), emotions, personal cosmology, and the wisdom of experience. There may be others (or others may define those differently), but those are the basic ingredients in the soup, more or less.
The assumption that is often implicit in political discussions over "the big issues" (as opposed to quibbling over percentage points on balance sheets) is that, if all these variables are in proper balance in an individual, they should end up coming down on the good side of these issues - or at least they should if we enter into the process assuming (or wanting to assume) that human nature is generally itself good.
Case in point, Norwich University Cadet Michael Self.
Read More
