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Nature vs nurture compare and contrast essay
Nature vs nurture compare and contrast essay
Nature vs nurture compare and contrast essay
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Gissel Perez
Mary Adelyn Kauffman
IDH1001
15 October 2015
How does the Flatland view of irregularities in configuration relate to the question of whether nature or nurture has a greater influence on character development? How are irregulars treated in Flatland society?
Nature versus nurture has been an ongoing argument about whether nature (a persons’ genes), or nurture (environmental factors) has a greater influence on human development. However, many people would agree “It no longer makes any sense to talk of "nature versus nurture" or "genes versus the environment". When it comes to human development, the two are inextricably intertwined…” (Ridley 38). Consequently, I believe that in the novel Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott, both nature and nurture have
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an equal effect on character development. Nature has an influence on character development in Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions since a shape is born irregular, because of their genetic makeup. For instance, it is rare for an Equal-Sided Triangle to be born from Isosceles parents, therefore, it is in the irregulars’ genes to be unequal. This influences character development because the irregularity of their sides and angles causes society to treat them unfairly. Consequently, since they do not get the same advantages that regular polygons have, they do not develop as much. For example, there is a “law of Nature” in Flatland that states, “…that a male child shall have one more side than his father so that each generation shall rise.” (Abbott 7), however, “…the son of an Isosceles remains Isosceles still. (Abbott 7).” It is clear that nurture, or the environment, has an influence on character development in Flatland because they do not get to rise as easily as regular polygons do in their society. Due to the environment that they live in there is very little room for improvement. Since their environment (Flatland) gives them very little, to no opportunity for them to prove themselves, they do not grow like the regular polygons. In order for an Isosceles to even get a feeble increase in their base they need to have “a long series of military successes …” (Abbott 8), whereas a regular polygon is born with a side more than their father. That is also a clear indication that nature has some influence on character development because it is in regular polygons genes to gain a side in order to rise and play a superior, more meaningful role, thus meaning polygons are able to develop more within their society.
This indicates that nature and nurture are not completely independent of each other. The genetic makeup that constructs the irregulars to be unequal is what triggers society to treat them differently. Furthermore, the environment in which they live has set up laws (“Law of Nature”), that ultimately, make it more difficult for irregulars to develop simply because their genes are different. One of the ways an irregular may be able to develop is if they receive surgery. This surgery is to “cure” irregularity. However, in some states they are not as lucky, and the irregular infant is abolished at birth. Sometimes when an irregular infant is born, instead of performing surgery, or killing it, they allow it to grow to see if their base grows with them. In the novel, Pantocyclus was the one that “…first convinced mankind that Configuration makes the man..” (Abbott 37). In other words, he is saying that the way you are born (genetics) greatly influences your future. If you are an Isosceles, “…you will assuredly go wrong unless you have them made even..” (Abbott 37). If you are a square or any other shape, but were
born with an irregular side, and do not receive surgery, you will end up in prison. This is also a clear sign that in their environment, whether you are a triangle or another shape, if you are not equal-sided you will not live a good life. Pantocyclus also specified that anything, from the slightest infraction to the most serious crimes, was “…attributed to some deviation from perfect Regularity in the bodily figure…” (Abbott 37). He also said that the irregularity could be congenital or caused by some collision, which shows that both nature and nurture have an effect on the development of character. This mainly demonstrates that nature versus nurture affects character development because the irregularity could be caused by genetics or something that occurred after, but regardless their society would still view them as deviant. It is difficult to develop as an irregular because ““The Irregular,” they say “is from his birth scouted by his own parents, derided by his brothers and sisters, neglected by the domestics, scorned and suspected by society and excluded from all posts of responsibility, trust, and useful activity…” (Abbott 24). How could there be any character development when they are being treated as if they were useless and incompetent by their society, simply because their sides and angles are not equal?
Flatland We are brought up thinking that everyone shares our views and that they are correct and the only right way of seeing things. In Flatland, a novel by Edwin A. Abbott, two men from different dimensions argue about which one of their societies is right and more superior. They accomplish nothing because each is so closed- minded to the fact that what they have known all their lives may be wrong. This is the case when it comes to homosexuality in today's world or anything that involves looking, acting, and thinking differently than us. A. Square and the Monarch of Lineland are closed-minded to the possibility ofthere being other worlds or multiple ways to seeing things different from their own.
The Nurture vs. Nature has been a long standing debate amongst psychologists. This psychological controversy questions whether or not the environment has more or less to do with the outcome of a child’s psychological development than the genetics involved. The nurture side of the argument is highly illustrated by the memoir The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore, due to the fact that both of their lives although starting off similar, ended dramatically different.
In the well-received novel “Pudd’nhead Wilson,” Mark Twain skillfully addresses the ancient argument about the origin of one’s character and whether it’s derived from his nature or his surroundings. We can best see this battle between nature versus nurture by inspecting the plot lines that follow the characters Thomas a Becket Driscoll, Valet de Chambre, and Roxana the slave. Thomas was born into a wealthy white family while Roxy birthed Chambers into a life of slavery. It seemed as though each would have gone their separate ways into opposite walks of life, but Roxy secretly swapped the children, which destined each to their counterintuitive fates. Through their words and actions, Tom, Chambers, and Roxy have proven the idea that one’s behaviors and desires are a result of his upbringings and the environment he lives in rather than by his innate nature.
"Flatland" is a story of depth, and the lack there of. The tale of A. Square's ventures through Pointland, Lineland and Spaceland ultimately reveal to him the possibilities of the seemingly impossible. In this case, the "impossibilities" are the very existence of other dimensions, or worlds.
“The term “nature versus nurture” is used to refer to a long-running scientific debate. The source of debate is the question of which has a greater influence on development: someone's innate characteristics provided by genetics, or someone's environment. In fact, the nature versus nurture debate has been largely termed obsolete by many researchers, because both innate characteristics and environment play a huge role in development, and they often intersect”. (Smith, 2010 p. 1)
The nature vs. nurture debate: the nature side, are those such as biologists, psychologists and others in the natural sciences, argue that behavioral traits can be explained by genetics. Those taking the nurture side are sociologists and others in the social sciences, they argue that human behavior is learned and shaped through social interaction. This argument should be dismissed because you don’t have to look far to see that both genetics and our environment, plays a role in who we are and our behaviors. (Glass). The point is there is a complex relationship between nature and nurture, either one alone is insufficient to explain what makes us human. (Colt). Our heredity gives us a basic potential,...
Nevertheless, some are found among the criminal class. Advancement is possible within flatland society, but only in a generational manner. Typically, the son of an isosceles will be equilateral, the son of an equilateral will be a square, whose son is most often a pentagon, and so forth adding a side every generation. At one point in the history of Flatland, painting was discovered. It had the unfortunate consequence of upsetting the social order because it allowed every polygon or triangle to look like another. In this way the various stratifications of society were erased. The rule of the "circles" seemed to be coming to the end. But a reaction occurred and the use of colors and paints was outlawed. The social structure was ratcheted back to its previous state. The lower orders in Flatland are treated rather callously. They can be summarily executed for knowing things they should not. Some obtuse people are used in schools, tied into place merely for the purpose of teaching young polygons about angles. The Square, the narrator, has a vision of yet another land, which he calls Lineland. It is the land of one dimension where the king lives on a line, controlling his people by
The book starts with a brief introduction to flatland, a two dimensional universe, to lay the foundation for the reader so they can better understand the world they're being presented. This means going over things such as classes and professions being based off your shape, more points means higher priority and therefore higher rank. An example would be a triangle being generally lower than let's say a hexagon, the triangle would be considered for a position as a solider while the hexagon would be seen more as nobility. Offspring of lower tier shapes typically are born with more points than their parents which means with each generation a new level of class when they're born, this establish that genetics due exist and that the shapes still
...s may never agree on a conclusive degree to which both nature and nurture play roles in human development, but over the years, more improved studies have shown that both are crucial aspects. With all the knowledge we are gaining from these studies, it would be quite limiting to believe that a criminal and his actions are the sole result of heredity. Even in people who do not commit crimes, genes themselves are affected by the prenatal environment. Undoubtedly, the fetus experiences changes in environment, forcing possible changes in heredity and reactionary response. We are likely to never find the answer to how much or how little either, nature or nurture, impacts our lives, but at least we can agree that they both do, in fact, have major roles. Our development is not the culmination of heredity alone, but of a tangled web of experiences and genetics entwined.
"Nature Plus Nurture." Read "" by Begley, Sharon. N.p., 13 Nov. 1995. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
One of the hottest debates is and has been nature vs nurture for years, but what is the difference between the two? Nature is what people think of as already having and not being able to change it, in other words, pre-wiring (Sincero). Nurture is the influence of experiences and its environment of external factors (Sincero). Both nature and nurture play important roles in human development. Scientists and researchers are both trying to figure out which is the main cause in development because it is still unknown on which it is. The best position to side with is nature. Nature is also defined as genetic or hormone based behaviors (Agin). Regardless of the involvement in everyday life, or nurture, this argumentation centers around the effect genes have on human personalities. Although it is understandable on reasons to side with nurture, nature is the better stand in this controversy. Reasons to side with nature is because of genes and what genes hold. Genes is what
Undoubtedly, humans are unique and intricate creatures and their development is a complex process. It is this process that leads people to question, is a child’s development influenced by genetics or their environment? This long debate has been at the forefront of psychology for countless decades now and is better known as “Nature versus Nurture”. The continuous controversy over whether or not children develop their psychological attributes based on genetics (nature) or the way in which they have been raised (nurture) has occupied the minds of psychologists for years. Through thorough reading of experiments, studies, and discussions however, it is easy to be convinced that nurture does play a far more important in the development of a human than nature.
During a personally conducted interview with my peer, Yulissa Morales, I asked what she knew about nature versus nurture. Her response was, “Nature is outside; what surrounds you. And nurture is how you are being cared for; if it is good or bad.” She was half right. Nature refers to a person’s DNA and inherited factors that influence who we are, from
Nature by itself can affect a child’s development. If the child is born with a disease or mental illness, they may develop at a slower pace. For example, if a child is born with Asperger’s syndrome, the child will have a difficult time with social skills and understanding emotions. Nurture deals with the environment. If a child was raised in a hostile environment, that child is more likely to be hostile when they get older. Environment may play a larger role in most cases due to everyday lifestyle, from the city you live in to the way you are raised. If one was raised in a healthy house hold, someone who lived in a toxic household may behave differently.
On entering this course supporting the viewpoints of that we are a blank slate, that human beings are naturally good, and that human development is continuous, not only are my opinions reinforced by the material studied but I’ve also come to accepting the opposing side of that we are not just blank slates but that genetics play an important role in our development and our development is not just continuous with are faced with moments of twist and turn that makes our development discontinuous. I was hell bent on how much of a blank slate we are, that we were born without anything innateness and that all knowledge and our personalities are gained through experience. Innateness is grounded in the field of genetics in which I do believe we all