Many ancients including Confucious and Lao Tzu took opposing views about this subject and their arguments are fascinating to read. Their arguments are nearly 2,500 years old. The Greeks also lively debated this question.
Of course, as dubs (and in fact, in most Christian faiths) we were taught that man was born inherently evil, and the quest is to overcome that and work towards the good. In otherwords, we were born with Cancer and have to spend our lives finding the "cure." Or else.
But does the evidence support that claim? I have my own arguments and will present them as the thread develops, if indeed it develops.
I'm interested in at least fairly sound arguments, not just people pulling opinions out of where they defacate. If you know what I mean here.
Remember, the discussion in this thread should hopefully be about whether ALL people are born with the tendency to be "not good" or whether ALL people are born with the tendency to be "good." It's the "tendency" to be either good or not good from birth that I'm interested in debating. As a child emerges from it's mother's body, what is it's "tendency", yet unnurtured as yet to be?
I would hope this would elicit some lively disucssion, since the ancient Chinese Masters were debating this very issue four hundred years before Christ was born, and since today this issue defines most religions of this world and determines the philosophies they put forward on their members.
Of course, this is an incomplete test. Besides genetic variables, there are also environmental variables that enter into the soup. That being so, I will further narrow down the sample. Suppose we have three groups that are large enough to be tested and statiscally evaluated: Group 1 consists of the (mainly Christian) variety that firmly believes that people are born inherently "bad" or even "wicked." They teach their children this and influence them from the earliest age. Group 2 consists of another variety that firmly believes that people are born inherently good and that there are other reasons not related to "original sin", genes or whatever that cause them to become bad. They, too teach their children this philosopy. Group 3 consists of, let's say atheists who are ambivalent about this issue and teach their children that they should do what they feel they have to do, without regards to consequences after this life.
Now we have a good sampling, and now we can discuss this issue. I would enjoy hearing peoples responses in the narrow framework I've define.
Hint: I assert people are born with more "good" tendencies than "bad" tendencies on the whole. I have some very good arguments for my position and will present them when necessary.
What say ye? Are we born inclined more towards "bad" or inclined more towards "good?"
Farkel