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PHILOSOPHY & East of Eden

PHILOSOPHY & East of Eden. Modern Novel. Essential Question. Are human beings essentially good or evil? (benevolent or selfish?). Born good or evil?. QW: Good or Evil?. What do you think? Is there such a thing as human nature? Are people born good? Evil? Neither? Both?

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PHILOSOPHY & East of Eden

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  1. PHILOSOPHY & East of Eden Modern Novel

  2. Essential Question Are human beings essentially good or evil? (benevolent or selfish?)

  3. Born good or evil?

  4. QW: Good or Evil? • What do you think? • Is there such a thing as human nature? • Are people born good? Evil? Neither? Both? • Give examples or tell a story to support your response.

  5. React to each statement… • Human beings are born evil—totally self-centered, prone to violence, devoid of human sympathy. • Even in acts of apparent kindness, humans are basically responding to their own selfish needs. • People who give to charity do so for some selfish motive (tax write-off, recognition, feel good, etc.) • If there were no laws, human society would resemble an animal state—brutal and nasty with survival of fittest reigning supreme.

  6. Egoism vs AltruismThomas Hobbes vs Jean Rousseau

  7. EGOISM • Hobbes • “It’s all about me!” • Ego = self • Each person is only concerned about herself, her happiness, her survival • We act ONLY out of self interest

  8. EGOISM • We are BORN selfish/self-interested • evil • Laws are the only thing that keep our behavior in check • for the good/protection of ourselves

  9. ALTRUISM • Rousseau • We are born GOOD • We are naturally concerned about others • Society corrupts us, makes us evil/selfish • Don’t need laws—we have an inherent concern for the good of others (society)

  10. “Tabula Rasa” Perhaps humans are neither born good nor evil. They start out as a blank slate and over time become more one way or the other.

  11. Tabula Rasa: definition • No built-in knowledge/content • We learn everything from experience • Favors the “nurture” side of the nature v. nature argument • DETERMINISM

  12. WRAP-UP • Are human beings born essentially good or evil? • Cite examples from your experiences, books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, etc. • How might religion tie into this? • Connect this to the characters from East of Eden…

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