DG: Examined Lives: Are Human Beings Fundamentally Good?

Topic: Are Human Beings Fundamentally Good?

Are human beings basically good, basically selfish, or some mix of the two? People start with different assumptions about human nature, and from them, spin elaborate myths. These myths shape our literature, our religions, our politics, our philosophies, and our economic systems. Nearly every institution that shapes our lives is built on one or another assumption about human nature. But what if our picture of human nature is all wrong? What does the latest science have to say? Could a more accurate picture of human nature save us from ourselves?