10. The tension between evolutionary psychology and developmental psychology is resolved by defining human nature as both our biological consciousness, and the collectively-derived *cultural consciousness* we receive from our social...

9. Of course, humans are the product of both nature and nurture. To adequately understand the influence of the nurture side of human development, we must take the impact of...

8. The idea that human nature is entirely determined by our biology is starkly contradicted by developmental psychology, which studies how the adult human mind can continue to grow along...

7. So if consciousness evolves, does this mean that human nature itself likewise evolves? This question is complicated by the fact that what counts as “nature” remains subject to dispute....

6. By participating in humanity’s collective cultural knowledge, individuals can develop their overall cognitive capacity. And this kind of individual development counts as authentic evolution. Simply put, culture and consciousness...

5. However, *human culture* has clearly evolved over the last 300 years, as seen in the advent of democracy and human rights. Moreover, the average person in the developed world...

4. I’m sympathetic to this conservative “precautionary principle.” Also, I think people have “a right to be who they are” and shouldn’t be subjected to coercive attempts at moral improvement...

3. Most conservatives think human nature can’t be trusted and needs controls. And Thomas Sowell argues that “human nature is essentially unchanging and that man is naturally inherently self-interested, regardless...

2. The key question surrounding the concept of human nature is whether it is mostly fixed or broadly malleable. We know individual people can change and become better. But what...

1. Although it’s an ancient idea, “human nature” remains a vital concept. Improving our understanding of human nature overall, by better recognizing both our limitations and our potentials, is crucial...