Are Humans Inherently Evil?
“Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.”
Maybe it's pessimism, but even the briefest glance at the day's newspapers is enough to convince anyone that we're a rotten old bunch, us humans.
War, murder, lies, the existence of Noel Edmunds, all the evidence seem to point to the fact that humanity is going to hell in a handbasket, singing football chants the whole way down.
The question is, why? Is there something in the biology of the human race that makes us all so abhorrent, or is it a skill that we've learnt over time and passed do through the generations? Is this even a debate for science at all, or is it something that we should leave to the philosophers?
There's also the faint glimmer of hope in there that maybe we've got it all wrong. Despite all the hell and damnation levelled at us by everyone from our first teachers to the church (I mean, original sin? Give us a chance at least), it could well turn out that maybe we're not so bad after all.
The debate rages on as to whether humanity is a lost cause or not. It has long been the concern of theologians and philosophers, but now scientists, evolutionists, biologists and psychologists have also decided to weigh in on the discussion.
So, are humans inherently evil?
10. Yes: We Are Socialised
Surely living in a socialised, civilised society is the opposite of inherently evil? Well, not exactly.
Humans live in highly structured societies with hierarchies and laws. A massive part of the government in most societies is dedicated to deciding which acts are acceptable and which are not, and quantifying them with equivalent punishments.
These laws are put in place to prevent people from harming others and to punish them if they do, all very noble, surely?
But what does it say about the nature of humans that we need rules in place in order to control our natural tendencies towards violence, aggression and sadism.
As the Eleventh Doctor so aptly put it "Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many."
The very fact that we have to actively deter people from committing evil deeds through a complex system of laws and punishments is pretty screwed up. It is an act of self-preservation, a mutual agreement between members of society in order to protect ourselves from each other.
Most people might argue that, even if the laws weren't there, they wouldn't go around committing crimes - but are you only saying that because you've been socialised to think so?