PHIL101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Amour-Propre, Egocentrism, Human Nature
8 Dec 2017
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Human nature in the state of nature. Heightened senses (very well developed), robust, agile, courageous, and well organized (adaptive to our environment) (40) Not scared because we have our own environment and how to deal with it. We are not afraid of dying in the state of nature, because we have less to lose (still afraid of getting hurt) (no mental anguish) Less problems with illness, old age, infirmities, etc. (41-42) (our society creates illness, so environment does not make these important issues) >basic needs only (food, sleep, sex), no fancy desires (46) No language, no concept of time, no imagination, no abstract idea just simple mental operation (like other animals). In our society today, we have the ability to compare which gives rise to preferences, which gives rise to jealousy and envy. We have no ties with other human beings in nature like we do in society.
