The information-packed book explores human nature and how our ideas of human nature have changed over time. Steven Pinker challenges the blank slate philosophy and proposes that we have innate genetic traits, shaped through evolutionary processes, that influence our lives more than we think.
Two competing ideas about human nature are the “blank slate “ and Pinker’s “innate mind”. I reject both of these extremes.
If I were to diagram the argument this is the way I picture it:
Two competing ideas about human nature are the “blank slate “ and Pinker’s “innate mind”. I reject both of these extremes.
If I were to diagram the argument this is the way I picture it:
Both feel like they have an underlying foundation of dependency. That man depends either on society (the blank slate philosophy) or nature (innate philosophy). I have a different view of the world and human nature. I believe that we are created by God and have the ability to progress to become more like God if we choose to do so. We can also, through our choices, become less like God. But that divineness is there, and it is what we do with our choices that decides who and what we become. I think we can change our personality. I don’t think it’s easy at all, but I think it is possible. I believe that we are affected by society and nature, and independent from them, not dependent on them. They can influence us, especially if we allow them to, but we can rise above our genes and our environment.
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