Are people inherently good?

Yes

6 of 69

by Dolores Moore

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Yes, I believe so, as what newborn child does any evil deed? As a human being, it possesses the qualities of goodness. I keep in mind the words from an old Abba song - "I believe in angels, something good in everything I see" and try to apply their meaning to everybody I meet or connect with. But I am a realistic, and relatively intelligent adult, so I understand that goodness at birth may not extend so easily to the later stages of life, for whatever reason.

Experts in many fields have examined goodness in terms of ethical behaviors, social norms and moral values that individuals use to shape their lives and interactions with the world. Religions might attribute goodness to the presence of God, or gods, in the person's soul. For the purpose of addressing the question under debate, I prefer to leave the more scholarly aspects alone, and express personal ideas for saying "yes."

Just look at very young children, who, without prompting, will share food, toys, kisses and hugs, all good actions that many parents will praise and encourage. Sadly, not all adults respond this way, which is where goodness can become blurred and diluted. By nature, we start off good, but nurture and adverse circumstances may push these better impulses under and out of the normal behavior patterns. A deprived child, whether emotionally or physically bereft, might have to become selfish or grasping in order to survive; at least in Western, more affluent societies. Yet consider those form the poorest of beginnings, who go on to give back to others, to show inherent goodness in practice. An example of this are the African immigrants with British citizenship. They may have belonged to a colony, or been granted asylum and many are in low paid jobs. They have a better life and more wealth than those left behind in the home country. They get together to send money back to endow schools, keep hospitals going, support others less fortunate. If that is not evidence of altruistic, inherent goodness, I don't know what is.

The other side of the argument might ask that we look at the terrible crimes that have destroyed lives and filled prisons. Yes, there are flawed human beings who have abandoned morality, betrayed their goodness. But I believe there are far more prison inmates who would show kindness, help another or wish to do so, than there are truly evil people. Bad deeds get more publicity than everyday evidence of goodness.

In the wider world, there are many instances to give proof of this belief. We may obey the rules of the road because the law demands that we do, but watch how people consider others, treat them with consideration and politeness. If an accident occurs, look how people stop to offer help - that is a fact of everyday life. Such impulses may arise from the belief that this is "the right thing to do", but it is inherent goodness that turns belief into action.

Some might argue that good acts come from the morals of the society in which we live. I would say that a look at those who helped the Jews during the Holocaust would partially refute that notion. No, those people risked their lives to follow the dictates of conscience, because they were inherently good. In times of danger and disaster, goodness shines out. I think of 9/11 and the bravery of the rescue workings. That was pure, unselfish goodness.

None of us is perfect, "good" days and "bad" days happen to us all. Yet I think more evidence exists for the presence of inherent goodness in the vast majority of mankind. It is just a matter of believing it is there, looking for it, accepting its presence and offering it back at every opportunity. Yes, we are good, let us just practice harder at being so.

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