I have this theory that we are all born with a natural inclination to do good to others. Babies in general are the most amazing pure innocent creatures on the face of earth. The universe is filled with living things but mankind has a soul that lives on forever. It is human nature to do good things in life. That is just how we are hard wired. Animals on the other hand are concerned with survival. Those in the animal kingdom have an obligation to stay alive. For instance only after the alpha is sated, do the others get to eat. People on the other hand are born to be altruistic by nature. It is reinforced with a little help from their parents or caregivers. This is the reason I believe family values are very important for children. Good values that help build a child into a good person. Support from a nurturing person that shows loves. Some animals do take care of each other, especially a mother. Her natural instinct is to love and nurture her young just like the human mother. I would love to know what you think. What causes people to do good things in the world?
I agree with you that we are all wired with the innate desire to "do unto others as you want them to do unto you." Many years ago I read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, and he explains that this "wiring" comes from God. In fact, this is the premise of his whole argument that God exists - that this desire could not just come from nowhere. Like you said, we have souls that live forever. Animals do not have souls. We are created by God, for God, to live with Him in eternity. The desire to do good is our soul "talking to us" - I guess you could say God talking to us. I don't think anyone can really be happy until he finds the love of our God. Doing good becomes a response to His amazing, awesome, infinite love.
ReplyDeleteGood is in all of us. The only thing that we have to do is to use it for other good deeds for ourseleves and others around us. Just as you said, we are all born to do good, and it is very obvious when you see people perform random acts of kindness not only during this time of year, but throughout the entire year. Exploring this goodness can help us be better individuals, and ultimately a better world.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to hear others speak of doing good as though it were so spontaneous for all. I agree with you Ellen “I don't think anyone can really be happy until he finds the love of our God.” Only then will this act of doing good in the world be effortless.
ReplyDeleteI totally back this. In Erikson's hierarchy of developement it states that a baby needs love in order to survive. And the whole mother-nurturing thing applies to older sisters too. I think if I didn't have to take care of my siblings, maybe I wouldn't be so inclined to think of others before myself. I love the idea that nature dictates that we do good.
ReplyDeleteIm not sure i completely agree with your point that we are born to want to do good. Because if we are, how do you explain the people who do evil? Why would someone act against their own nature specially if it is to do something bad?
ReplyDeletePeople do evil things because they did not have the support of their care givers or parents during the developmental periods in life. For instance the environment we grow up in may lean toward doing evil and not support the premise of helping others. To help you understand this theory read Dr. Philip Zimbardo article on the Lucifer Effect
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lucifereffect.com/
Idealist describes
ReplyDelete"Essex County CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates, is an independent ,court authorized, non profit which trains volunteers to promote the welfare of foster children in Essex County,NJ. Volunteers are appointed by the family court to gather information about a child's needs while in foster care and to serve as the "child's voice in court". Volunteers meet regularly with the child in their foster placement, gather information about the child's circumstances, interview all concerned persons (relatives, teachers, etc), monitor compliance with court orders and make recommendations to the court"
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this brings me back to my theory that I was meant to nurture due to my environmental factors.
Webster defines Nurture as
1 : training, upbringing
2 : something that nourishes : food
3 : the sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism
http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/VolunteerOpportunity/167251-16/c
ReplyDeleteOOPS I forgot to give my you the link to Idealist. LOL
I agree with you that we are born innocent. I think as we grow, then that's when innocence begins to fade away because the child is learning more evils and corruption in the world. I think it takes good parenting and gudience to lead someone towards the right path to goodness
ReplyDeletei agree with angel. i think this is because anyone who is truly and only good; who acts all nice and lovy dovy will have a hard time surviing in this world we live in. i agree that there are good people but then, there are so little of them and so many of bad people. And i donot think that people wiht evil intentions will spare the good ones. in fact they will be their prime target. so, in a way we have to learn to be a little harsh as we grow old.
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