Dr.

Kenneys Lecture Notes: Seven Theories of Human Nature

Competing, Complementing, and Supplementing theories of human nature (largely
based on 7 Theories of Human Nature, by Leslie Stevenson, 1974).
Format of presentation: Each theory will be presented in a succinct fashion, perhaps spending 5-7 minutes
on each view. The name of the theory (A) will be presented; resources for further study will be mentioned
(B). This will be followed by a four point analysis: (1) view of universe; (2) view of man; (3) diagnosis
of human condition (the problem); and, (4) prognosis, or solution. Some reflections may follow.
1.
A. Platonism
B. The Republic and/or other writings by Plato.
1. View of Universe:
eternal forms

2. View of Man;
tripartite

3. Problem:
injustice

4. Solution:
philospher-kings

2.
A. Judeo-Christian-Islamic (Western world religious)
B. Bible/Koran
1. View of Universe
theistic

2. View of Man:
image of God

3. Problem:
sin

4. Solution:
grace

3.
A. Marxism
B. Communist Manifesto; Das Kapital
1. View of Universe; 2. View of Man;
dialectical materialism laborer

3. Problem;
alienation

4. Solution;
communism

4.
A. Atheistic Existentialism (Jean Paul Sarte)
B. Being & Nothingness (1957)
1. View of Universe; 2. View of Man; 3. Problem; 4. Solution
idiosyncratic
existence/essence angst
authenticity
5
A. Freudian Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud)
B. Five Lectures of 1909
1. View of Universe; 2. View of Man; 3. Problem; 4. Solution
anti-metaphysical
id-ego-superego repression psychoanalysis
6
A. Skinnerian Behaviorism (B. F. Skinner)
B. Science and Behavior (1953)
1. View of Universe; 2. View of Man; 3. Problem; 4. Solution
scientism
deterministic
environmental environmental
7
conditioning
conditioning
A. Sociobiology (Konrad Lorenz; et. al.)
B. On Aggression (1966).
1. View of Universe; 2. View of Man; 3. Problem; 4. Solution
evolutionary biology
social animal
misdirected
redirected
aggression
aggression

1. Platonism
1. View of Universe:
A. A dualism of shadows and realities.
1. shadows = the things perceived in this world
2. realities= the eternal forms
(see overhead illustration here)
a. explains universals and particulars
1. Cat=cats
2. perfect circles-replicas
3. the Good-attempts at goodness
2. View of Man
A. A dualism of body and soul (incarcerated spirit)
1. soul corresponds to mental ideal world
2. body corresponds to physical approximate world
B. A tripartite view of man & society (individual writ large)
1. appetite (bodily desire); temperance; artisans
2. reason- (intellect); courage; warriors
3. spirit- (personality) wisdom; guardians
C. Justice= a harmonious working of the three individually and
collectively
3. Problem
A. Man and society are in disharmony
B. Failed experiments:
timocracy-rule of those to be feared (as in Sparta)
oligarchy-rule of the elite
democracy-rule of people
monarchy-rule of one (although corrupt)
4. Solution
A. Philosopher-Kings (only perfect and enlightened men can govern
wisely)
B. State education should seek this end
C. A division of labor should be enforced to allow for individual's varying
abilities and aptitudes

2. Judeo-Christian-Islamic
A. View of Universe
1. Creator-Creation (God exists, creates for his own glory)
A. Teleology-the glory of God
B. Transcendence & Immanence
B. View of Man
1. Imagio-Dei (an animated body)
C. Problem
1. Fall (original and actual sin)
D. Solution
1. Grace/Regeneration (rebirth): The Divine Initiative
a. Moses/Jesus/Mohammed
1. the dispute is over who is primary as the agent of God's
salvific and revelatory activity

3. Marxism
A. View of Universe (dialectical materialism)
1. Atheistic (at least as refuting all current forms of theism)
2. Focused mostly on socio-economic forces:
a. iron laws govern economic conditions of culture
Capitalism gives way to Socialism
(needs of rich)
(needs of poor)
resulting in Communism
(needs of all)
B. View of man
1. essentially man is a laborer ( a social-economic-political animal)
a. our social state determines our consciousness
C. View of problem
1. alienation-from self-society-and the way things should be
a. workers are unfulfilled; exhausted; debased
1. largely due to monopolies on private property
b. industry was made for man; not man for industry
D. Solution:
1. The Communist party as an instrument to true Communism-a classless
society-where "from each acc. to ability; to each acc. to need"

4. Atheistic Existentialism
A. View of Universe
1. There is no God; life is absurd; meaning is conjured;
2. Emphases:
a. individualism-uniqueness
b. meaning (subjective and unique)
c. freedom-attitudes; purposes; lifestyle
B. View of Man
1. Existence precedes Essence (we aren't; we become)
a. hence; freedom and free choices are at the heart of what
constitutes our humanity
1. we are condemned to be free
'
2. we are not free to cease being free
3. True freedom rules out determinism or predictability (ya
never know what he's going to do)
C. Problem
1. the pain of freedom-angst
bad faith-believing that circumstances dictate what we do-makes
us essentially who and what we are-but we arent essentially anything yet
D. Solution
resist bad faith and accept freedom boldly
You are free, therefore, authentically choose
this is the path to self-knowledgeWhatever you choose that you are!
(like wherever you go-there you are)

5. Freudian Psychoanalysis
A. View of Universe (anti-metaphysical)
1. no theological assumption; no forms; no theory of history; just the
laws of physics and chemistry
B. View of Man
1. Deterministic-every event has a preceeding and sufficient cause
(individual and mental)
2. idegosuperego
memories,desires
drives

conscious mind

conscience

3. Oedipus complex-attraction to mother; repulsion to father

4. stages: oral; anal; phalic
5. theory of drives
life instinct-food; sex
death wish-aggression; sadism
6. theory of personality
heredity
environment-esp. childhood trauma
represssed memory-relived= relieved!
C. Problem
1. repression of childhood trauma
2. imbalance of id-ego-superego
D. Solution
1. psychoanalysismethod-free association; dream analysis
2. conscious suppression or sublimation of illicit desires

6. Skinnerian Behaviorism
A. View of Universe (Scientistic)
1. Scientific method only valid knowledge; purpose of science is not just
to observe and predict, but also to control world
B. View of Man (deterministic)
1. give me any infant and by environmental conditioning I'll give you
what you want
2. Assumptions:
If we are to use the methods of science in the field of human
affairs, we must assume that behavior is lawful and determined (109)
behavior is a function of external conditions
C. Problem
1. opp of Sarte-free, but won't admit
hence determined, but wont' admit it
D. Solution
control of environment

7. Sociobiology
A. View of Universe
1. evolutionary
parents pass traits to offspring
offspring demonstrate variations (due to gene mutation)
offspring are capable of geometric increase
resources become scarce with overpopulation
2. behaviors are rooted in biochemistry
4 major behaviors: drives for food; sex; fight; flight
aggression functions to:
preserve territory (food)
mates
(offspring)
status
(security)
much of animal aggression is threat or pursuit related, not
murder
3. persistent behaviors have survival value
these are hereditary coordinators
instinct movements
B. View of humanity
social animal
aggression is different in degree not kind
C. Problem
misdirected aggression
innate tribal aggression combined with weapons of mass
destruction
D. Solution
redirect aggression
humor; education; global unity