Nature & Nurture Harmoniously Combined
Nature & Nurture Harmoniously Combined Over the years, several theories of knowledge have developed, and are currently debatable. First, there is John Locke's theory of nurture or tabula rasa, which argues that the human mind begins as a blank slate and it, is only through experience that character and personality are formed. Opposing Locke's blank slate theory, Steven Pinker, an influential writer, encourages his theory based on nature. It states that personalities are not made, but born, and that each character is mostly determined before birth. However, these theories are now questionable several hundred years later due to advancement in technology and genetics. Modern day science claims that nature and nurture are dependent on each other. Thus, a majority of the human character is shaped by genes, and also contrastingly by environment. In addition, other researchers have generated theories of knowledge which unify the theories of Locke and Pinker. Following the researchers Richard Herrnstein's and E.O. Wilson's views, "nature plays a significant role in shaping human intelligence and character traits through genetics" (Esin 1). Therefore, humans possess innate tendencies, and through life, learning, experience, and
One might wonder if there is a happy medium between Locke's view and Pinker's view. This theory was originally preconceived in order to undermine the superiority of royals and aristocrats to that of the slaves. This statement ultimately satisfies the theory of nature and nurture being codependent upon each other, since both genetics and society are relevantly influential on human identities. His theory also states that the "main general characteristics of our species are genetically programmed: our facility with language, our ability to understand each other's actions as manifestations of mind, our number sense, our moral sense, our tool-making propensities" (McGinn 2). After all, if humans are born with minds like blank slates, there can be no inherited hierarchy among individuals-regardless of gender, race, religion and culture" (Esin 1). Pinker's view claims that human nature is a set of mental abilities common to our ancestors, a mixture of innate tendencies, and a set of moral responses. In conclusion, nature and nurture are interdependent upon each other when shaping a human's identity. Some people are born more intelligent than others and human personality types are also attributed to genes. With this in mind, one might question, if humans are born with a blank slate, what happened to genetic and hereditary traits? To answer that question, Pinker's views on human knowledge explain the 'nature' aspect. In support of this blank slate theory, one can argue that personalities are not pre-determined, but instead evolve over a period of time. Following the researchers Richard Herrnstein's and E. Pinker gives a provocatively explicit example of his theory on violence. Both Pinker's and Locke's theories are entirely centered on the opposing concepts of nature and nurture.
Common topics in this essay:
African American,
EO Wilson's,
EO Wilson,
Locke Human,
Steven Pinker,
John Locke's,
Pinker's Locke's,
nature nurture,
Harmoniously Combined,
blank slate,
Opposing Locke's,
significant role,
modern day,
esin 1,
Locke Pinker,
human intelligence character,
role shaping,
intelligence character,
slate theory,
innate tendencies,
human intelligence,
intelligence character traits,
significant role shaping,
shaping human intelligence,
modern day science,
|
Acceptance Essays
