Does Civilization Corrupt The Individual

737 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of integrity in society

Does Civilization Corrupt the Individual? The eighteenth-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau proposed a theory that is known as the “Noble Savage Theory.” This theory outlines that human beings are, by nature, good. He believed, along with many others, that a human that has not been touched by civilization and the world around them is an incredible thing. However, the Bible tells us differently. Humans, who are born in sin, naturally corrupt society, although civilization plays an important role in shaping you into who you become as a person. Humans influence the society around them and how it changes. Without humans, there would be no civilization. First, people affect the society around them for better or for worse. There is exceptional proof of this in the Bible. Genesis 2:8 says, “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.” (KJV, Gen. 2:8) God placed Adam in the most fascinating place that has ever existed: the Garden of Eden. Everything was perfect; God even made Eve for Adam! But, Adam and Eve corrupted the beautiful world that they were created in. This alone is disproves the noble savage theory. …show more content…

In their depravity, they naturally, even if not purposefully, corrupt civilization with their tendency to sin. Romans 5:12 shows that we are all sinful: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”(KJV, Rom. 15:12)With or without civilization, we have all been sinful since the fall. We make bad choices and do wrong things no matter where we are placed in this world. Satan influences in all of us and affects our behaviour. People can and have corrupted civilization and society in a negative way over the course of history. For example, Adolf Hitler had a profound influence on modern civilizations and societal dynamics. People have shaped our society into the acceptance of

Show More
Related

  • Connecting The Tempest, Of Cannibals, Eating Gifted Children, and Modest Proposal

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are several, in-depth connections presented in The Tempest by William Shakespeare, "Of Cannibals" by Michel de Montaigne, "How to Raise Your I.Q. by Eating Gifted Children" by Lewis Frumkes, and "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift. While all these stories feature civilization and the uncivilized coming into contact with one another, perhaps for the first time, they also feature a deeper connection. They feature a connection to each other that strikes to the very heart and structure of our civilizations today-just as it did when these works were written. That connection is the idea that the "noble savage" (if there is such a thing) is appalled at what we call civilization because of how unjust, uncaring, and unkind we are to one another. The works point out how the savage perhaps is just the innocent and we are the ones who ought to be called savages-not because of what our culture does, but what it does not do.

    Read More

  • Civilization vs Savagery

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    In life today, society holds many expectations of its people. Members of society are expected to behave in a civilized manner; conforming to law, following social norms, and acting with dignity and without violence. When the boys became marooned on the island, they were forced to question the expectations they had always observed. This brought about a large battle between those who decided to remain civil and those who would rather rebel. Civilization is pitted against acts of savagery in a plethora of ways in Lord of the Flies when determining who had the right to speak during assemblies, when the group hunted pigs, throughout the struggle over Piggy’s glasses, and finally with Simon’s death.

    Read More

  • Exploring Views on Human Nature: From Hobbes to Rousseau

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henry Miller, a famous American writer, once said “Man has demonstrated that he is a master of everything except his own nature.” The discourse on human nature dates back to ancient times, and this conversation is as complex as it was since the beginning. Considering that this is an abstract topic and a major theme in Western philosophy, there is no unanimous understanding of human nature. For example, Hobbes describes the original state as a constant state of war filled with misery, greed and evil. Rousseau describes natural man to be peaceful, timid and innocent. People like Rousseau would argue that civilization is miserable, and that human nature is a perfect place to escape from civilization because man is free and more equal in the

    Read More

  • Civilization View On Civilization

    1441 Words  | 3 Pages

    For generations mankind has tried to answer the question about their purpose here on earth and tried to explain human behavior. In their written works, Freud and Nietzsche develop independent hypotheses about the evolution of civilization from its beginning, and similarly assess the unintentional effects caused by society on an individual’s life.

    Read More

  • Savagery In Lord Of The Flies Argumentative Essay

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    The savage in man is never quite eradicated. -Henry David Thoreau. Can the lack of civilization bring out the inner savagery in people? In the novel The Lord of the Flies by the late William Golding, a group of boys are forced to flee their homes in England due to incoming axis bombers. They board a plane, but in the middle of their flight they were shot down and crash land on a deserted island. Only a fraction of the boys survived the crash and were strung out along the island.Two of the older boys, Ralph and Piggy, find each other and began searching for others. During their walk, Piggy spotted a conch shell and Ralph blew it, alerting all of the boys on their position and they flocked over. They held a meeting with the group and after discussing

    Read More

  • The Age Of Enlightenment In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rousseau believes that early humans did not innately have or use reason but were only aware of instinct and basic feelings such as hunger, thirst, and light. He states that “man’s first feeling was that of his existence, his first concern was that of self-preservation,” (Rousseau, 109). The early man, knowing of his existence, knows only what to do and how to survive because of his instinct which is innately in every living creature. Instinct tells living creature to survive; that is do whatever it takes to preserve oneself. The early man spends time thinking about and doing only those things necessary to his survival leaving no time to ponder why they are doing what they are doing. This leads to a society that is stagnating and has no reason/thoughts that challenge their own and others motives. Shelley extends from and supports ...

    Read More

  • Hobbes Vs Rousseau

    1582 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were 17th and 18th-century philosophers with very similar, yet contrasting theories about human nature. Whereas Hobbes created his philosophy based on the idea that humans are naturally competitive, violent, and selfish, Rousseau’s philosophy is based on his opinion that man is good by nature, but corrupted by society. Hobbes ideas may be viewed as quite cynical, especially when compared to Rousseau’s more idealistic ideas. Both philosophers discussed ideas relating to a ‘state of nature’ and what would happen to man once placed in a ‘state of nature’ stripped of outside influences. Also, both philosophers discussed their ideas about what morality and ethics are and why humans act in the way that they do.

    Read More

  • The Civilization Of Civility

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    The legitimate definition of being civilized is derived from decisions made within people’s minds, with no bearing by the pressures of the population. In order to be civilized, one must make the choice to do the thing that they feel is right, and what they morally are obligated to do, not what the general population is doing. Also, one other aspect of civilization is not committing acts of sin which violate every moral code known to mankind. Finally, in order to be civilized, one must be able to feel any form of guilt or remorse for his actions. To be civilized has taken over many meanings in the past, but it all comes down to conscious choices made by an individual.

    Read More

  • Divergent is Cool

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    This author believes that humans strive to maintain goodness but our prideful desire for power leads us to take the shortest route to gratification. Divergent demonstrates both our ability to do right and our inability to sustain goodness without strong restraints on our desires. This is why societies must maintain rules and punishments in order to try to sustain our goodness for as long as possible.

    Read More

  • Golding vs. Rousseau

    1085 Words  | 3 Pages

    knowledge base of human kind increased man began to explore more possibilities and more options which gave them the idea that led them to become more evil. Rousseau explained his theories and thoughts in many of his books which inspired and influenced so many pe...

    Read More

  • Difference Between John Locke And Rousseau

    1750 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rousseau presumes that in the beginning, humans were living in a peaceful state of nature and lived in equality, but as civilization progressed it began to change man as challenges became more elaborate, lives became more complicated, development of the possession of property began, and habitually more comparisons were made amongst us. The first law of nature also contributed to our sense of ownership. The first law of nature recognized by Rousseau is self-preservation; we care about ourselves then society and this law is used to defend or prove our own independence. As a result or this change of civility, we shifted to a state of nature that was far from grace, where we desired the suffering of others, only cared about ourselves, and developed the meaning of inequalities. People realized that their natural rights could no longer coexist with their freedom in the state of nature and also that they would perish if they did not leave the state of nature. Therefore, the state of nature no longer became desirable and society restored that motive; in this new societal environment we develop morals to handle conflicts and help preserve ourselves. Locke believes that while in our natural state we all have morals, though Rousseau challenges that belief by claiming that society generates a moral character within us. Rousseau insists that everyone can be free and live

    Read More

  • Philosophy: Are Humans Born to be Good or Evil?

    1679 Words  | 4 Pages

    Are human beings born to be good? Or are we naturally born to be evil? A person’s nature or essence is a trait that is inherent and lasting in an individual. To be a good person is someone who thinks of others before themselves, shows kindness to one another, and makes good choices in life that can lead to a path of becoming a good moral person. To be a bad person rebels against something or someone thinking only of them and not caring about the consequences of their actions. Rousseau assumed, “that man is good by nature (as it is bequeathed to him), but good in a negative way: that is, he is not evil of his own accord and on purpose, but only in danger of being contaminated and corrupted by evil or inept guides and examples (Immanuel Kant 123).” In other words, the human is exposed to the depraved society by incompetent guardians or influences that is not of one’s free will in the view of the fact that it is passed on. My position is humans are not by nature evil. Instead, they are good but influenced by the environment and societies to act in evil ways to either harm others or themself.

    Read More

  • The Roots of Human Nature

    690 Words  | 2 Pages

    The roots of human nature are sunk deep into our history and experiences. When in our own lives we are to find the basis of our human nature, we must look to our early years, the formative years. Now take for example if we placed a newborn in the wild or in a high-class, well-mannered, wealthy family. The human nature of the newborn in the wild will be exactly that, wild and chaotic. While on the other hand the newborn in the well-mannered society will be well mannered and moralistic. Human nature is defined by the values that are taught and the values that society defines, if there are no societal values, human nature is doomed and lessened to that of wolves. Society defines the values and morals for its people to live by, common values. These values affect human nature and affect the way an even slightly self-conscious person behaves. An example of one of these societal values is table manners. Society has defined over hundreds of years of history to eat accompanied by utensils. Society also has set the value and that eating with your bare hands is “un-civilized.” Another example of a moralistic standard is not to steal. This value is taught by our parents and members of the society, the human society. So human nature has a conscience because of social morals and values. The formation and situation of human nature is dependent on these “guidelines.” Some people’s human nature may be to steal, maybe to survive but most humans have this as a wrong...

    Read More

  • Savage or Civilized: Is There a Difference?

    1621 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many different groups make up the human population of the world. Each differentiates itself from the others based on customs, traditions, language and culture, thinking that what they have is the best. When two groups or people from different civilizations come into contact with each other, in theory both groups believe that their way of life is the sophisticated one and the other’s is the savage one, but more often than not, there is little difference between the two groups. Murder is a savage crime, yet both sides are able to explain it through their traditions, making it acceptable for themselves and appalling if it’s the other side doing it, yet in reality, murder is a cruel act and no matter who commits it, he commits an uncivilized act. In the Greek epic, Odyssey, Polyphemus, the Cyclops is considered a savage beast, who does not follow the customs of the Greeks and hence condemned as a brute. He eats several men, who had accompanied Odysseus, and this act further adds to his “savageness” in the eyes of the Greeks. However, if he is a savage just because he didn’t follow the rules of Greek society and committed murder than wouldn’t Odysseus be a savage beast for murdering all the suitors and the maids instead of putting them under “civilized” justice, after all his patron goddess is the goddess of justice and wisdom? Wouldn’t his men be considered savages for eating the cattle of the Sun God after being told that they were sacred? If savages are the ones, who don’t follow the customs and commit murder, then the whole epic is about savages and not heroes. In Voltaire’s Candide, savageness hides under the pretense of civilized law, where one can burn down villages according to the law, rape and sell women without any punishme...

    Read More

  • Deviance and Society

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    Determining Deviance The dictionary defines deviance as the breakdown or diversion from the accepted norm or expected standards of behaviour of a society. The concept of deviance however has no standard definition, it is deemed to be culturally relative. That is to say that your culture (norms, values and morals) determine what you as an individual or your society deems deviant behaviour. Functionalist Findings on Deviance The functionalist sociologist would see deviance as a necessary evil for society to function. This may seem contradictory to their belief that any form of conflict (deviance being a form of conflict) in society would be considered abnormal and should be removed or cured but deviance does help keep a form of structure in our society.

    Read More

More about Does Civilization Corrupt The Individual

Open Document