Are People Born Good, Evil, or Indifferent?

[Rainbow Mage]

The reason I ask this is because I see some people I've known my entire life who were always so good and kind, like it came to them by nature. Then I've known some who acted like they were harsh and hateful by nature. I've been told myself by some of my friends that I'm an unusual person because I am naturally soft-hearted, naturally kind, naturally empathetic, without having to really try. This is people who have known me my entire life. Then they tell me not everyone is naturally loving and compassionate like me. Is that really so? I wonder if everyone is born good? I know everyone can't be born evil, because like I said, people who have known me my entire life say I was born naturally good and affectionate, because that's been my personality and behaviour all my life.

 

[TheKnight]

The reason I ask this is because I see some people I've known my entire life who were always so good and kind, like it came to them by nature. Then I've known some who acted like they were harsh and hateful by nature. I've been told myself by some of my friends that I'm an unusual person because I am naturally soft-hearted, naturally kind, naturally empathetic, without having to really try. This is people who have known me my entire life. Then they tell me not everyone is naturally loving and compassionate like me. Is that really so? I wonder if everyone is born good? I know everyone can't be born evil, because like I said, people who have known me my entire life say I was born naturally good and affectionate, because that's been my personality and behaviour all my life.

People are born inherently good. We are a duality. We have two internal forces which drive us in either direction (towards that which is true and that which is false--true=good false=evil). Our leaning is towards choosing good.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I would be inclined to agree with that, but like I said, there are people who do bad quite as passionately as though they were born bad, or one would think it.

 

[TheKnight]

I would be inclined to agree with that, but like I said, there are people who do bad quite as passionately as though they were born bad, or one would think it.

I've never met someone who does bad as if they were born that way. And in my work with law enforcement, I've met some pretty bad people.

You learn that everyone has a back-story.

 

[joea]

The reason I ask this is because I see some people I've known my entire life who were always so good and kind, like it came to them by nature. Then I've known some who acted like they were harsh and hateful by nature. I've been told myself by some of my friends that I'm an unusual person because I am naturally soft-hearted, naturally kind, naturally empathetic, without having to really try. This is people who have known me my entire life. Then they tell me not everyone is naturally loving and compassionate like me. Is that really so? I wonder if everyone is born good? I know everyone can't be born evil, because like I said, people who have known me my entire life say I was born naturally good and affectionate, because that's been my personality and behaviour all my life.

I think all people are born good....you are innocent when you're a child...the child later learns in life, things of the world...where he creates his new ego and personality...and whether he's going to be good or evil..

 

[Madhuri]

There is no 'good' and 'evil'. People are born with different personalities, propensities and perspectives because of samskaras; impressions from past lives. We start our new lives with a whole lot of baggage that needs to be worked through.

 

[Sunstone]

People are born neither good nor evil. Instead, they are born confused.

 

[ChristineES]

I believe that behavior is learned, for the most part.

 

[footprints]

The reason I ask this is because I see some people I've known my entire life who were always so good and kind, like it came to them by nature. Then I've known some who acted like they were harsh and hateful by nature. I've been told myself by some of my friends that I'm an unusual person because I am naturally soft-hearted, naturally kind, naturally empathetic, without having to really try. This is people who have known me my entire life. Then they tell me not everyone is naturally loving and compassionate like me. Is that really so? I wonder if everyone is born good? I know everyone can't be born evil, because like I said, people who have known me my entire life say I was born naturally good and affectionate, because that's been my personality and behaviour all my life.

This is a two fold question: For most part people are born in a perfectly sane state. The newborn have no knowledge and the environment is yet to impact on them. However, some poor people are born with genetic impairments, which is an immediate environmental impact.

A general rule of thumb, the more peaceful, the more tolerant, the more patient a person is, the more sane they are. Evil per se, being insanity to a greater or lesser degree.

 

[kai]

we are all wired up differently

 

[ericoh2]

I see us as being born with a dual nature, such as is represented by the Tao. A natural ego concerned with self centered activity is present at birth and is necessary for physical survival, as well as a side that promotes unity. It seems to me that oftentimes circumstances provide situations in which a person becomes lopsided in that one of the two natures begins to dominate the other. I don't see this as being proper development regardless of which side becomes dominate because either way you become a slave to this nature. In proper development we should be aware of both aspects of ourselves (neither vilifying one nor praising the other) and through experience learn to be a witness and master of ourselves. It is said that Gurdjieff once wrote something like: Real man is neither good nor evil but conscious. Real man always has two sides, one good and one evil, but so that one side does not destroy the other a man needs to develop conscience.
I think this sums up human nature quite well.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings!

>Are people born good, evil, or indifferent?

Definitely good!

And I quote from the scriptures I endeavor to follow:

"Man is the supreme talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."

—(Gleanings, CXXII, pp. 259-260)

Best!

Bruce

 

[Just_me_Mike]

For those that say there is no good or evil, I only say that is true because you have yet to define them.
Saying there is no good or evil, only delays growth on your part. It is the height of maturing to boldly declare your interest in discerning for yourselves what is good and what is evil. It keeps us in the dark ages even today by not defining it.

 

[Erebus]

I would argue that most people are born as a shade of grey so to speak and they lean more towards good or evil as a result of upbringing, environment, circumstance and personal choice. Some people however are born with certain abnormalities which could lead them more quickly down a certain path. Unless I'm much mistaken, some autopsies on psychopaths have revealed a different brain structure? This would seem to suggest at least some people can be born evil or rather, be born with a natural inclination towards evil.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I've yet to meet anybody I would describe as strictly good, evil, or indifferent.

 

[ChristineES]

I've yet to meet anybody I would describe as strictly good, evil, or indifferent.

That's true. Even the most evil person has some humanity for at least a few people. But I don't know about sociopaths, like Ted Bundy. He seemed to have no compassion. But I wouldn't know.

 

[no-body]

That's true. Even the most evil person has some humanity for at least a few people. But I don't know about sociopaths, like Ted Bundy. He seemed to have no compassion. But I wouldn't know.

Bundy had some serious problems growing up, I don't believe he was born "evil" either thought certainly some people are predisposed that way genetically as well as because of nature and nurture etc.

I think kids are born innocent and as the ego develops that is where the source of badness comes in. Adults will try to plant the seeds of guilt and understanding for later but true understanding can't really be thought through knowledge because a child understands no shades of gray, they just aren't physically ready to understand.

The only true way to teach goodness would be to teach understanding of the ego and it's dissolution. Later on when as an adult you mature and understand shades of gray the ego is still in control, adults want to foster their ideas of "goodness" on society "look how good I am" "I'm so good" so they have a vested interest in not focusing on the ego.

 

[Yerda]

From what little I've read, I think their is evidence from some sort of human nature - that we are born with some predispositions, some innate tendencies. That might not seem too controversial, but to some people it verges on Nazism to admit so. Whether we are born good, evil or whatever is perhaps dependant on the cultural views of the time and place.

Does anyone know of any good reading on this subject or similar?

 

[Sunstone]

From what little I've read, I think their is evidence from some sort of human nature - that we are born with some predispositions, some innate tendencies.

That's pretty much how I see it, too.

Does anyone know of any good reading on this subject or similar?

Marc Hauser, perhaps. I hope I've spelt his name right.

 

[Amill]

I think we're all born with the capacity to be any of those things, and our experiences throughout our life influence which kind of personalities and characteristics we take on.