Sociology Plus
Human Nature Definition
Human nature refers to the fundamental characteristics of human beings as a species, which sociologists generally view not as a fixed set of innate instincts or predetermined essences, but rather as a highly plastic quality shaped by culture and socialisation. Unlike other species whose behaviour is largely dictated by instinct, human behaviour is profoundly influenced by the environment and societal structures. This plasticity means that while certain universal tendencies may exist, the specific manifestations of human traits are determined by the societies in which people live.
Plasticity and Environment
A central theme in the study of human nature is its remarkable plasticity. Rather than being born with fixed instincts or predispositions, human behaviour is developed through maturation and is heavily influenced by cultural context. This perspective counters deterministic views suggesting that humans are inherently acquisitive or aggressive, as it allows for explanations based on societal examples where such traits are absent. The need for external structures arises because the unconstrained nature of human desires, if left unchecked, would lead to deprivation.
Social Order and Stability
The recognition of human nature’s plasticity is crucial in the social sciences because it helps explain the pursuit of social order and personal stability. Sociologists like Emile Durkheim and Arnold Gehlen argued that the ‘world-openness’ of humanity—unconstrained by rigid instinctual limits—contributed to psychological and social difficulties. To manage this inherent variability, the creation and imposition of a culture of rules and values are necessary; this cultural framework acts as an external skeleton, compensating for the fluidity of human nature.
Philosophical Debates
The concept of human nature has been subject to extensive philosophical debate regarding its composition. Some theorists, including Thomas Hobbes, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, and utilitarians, tended to attribute human nature to selfish or egoistic motives rooted in biological imperatives. Conversely, thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, and Peter Kropotkin linked human nature more closely to cooperation and altruism.
The Historical and Modern View
The most influential sociological perspective, exemplified by Max Weber, viewed human nature less as a predetermined essence and more as a consequence of human history and experience. However, recent social theorists, including Michel Foucault and social constructionists, have largely rejected the notion of a singular, objective human nature altogether, focusing instead on how concepts of nature are constructed within specific historical and social contexts.