Preview

Born to Be Good Chapter 1 Sumarry

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1373 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Born to Be Good Chapter 1 Sumarry
Ethan Gameren
Psychology 370
September 24, 2012

Personal Viewpoint of Chapter One of ‘Born To Be Good – The science of a meaningful life,’ by Dacher Keltner

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek conducted the first microbiological observance in the fifteenth century with such an utterly eccentric sense of curiosity, which it led to a field of study that would change the world forever. I interpret the sudden change of subject from the first to second paragraph as a simile that the new topic of ‘jen science’ will, too, alter the world in a way that will disable our ability to ever overlook this new realm of science.

Jen science seems to be a mix of a concept outlined by Confucius and, in a more contemporary light, a field of research gaining momentum as its empowering fundamentals seem to gain more credence through empirical studies. The concept itself is empowering and uplifting; its ability to enable people to mathematically equate all emotional human activity and give it a rating is, to me, very exciting. In an oversimplified nutshell, my understanding is that you can simply divide all queues for happiness by those contrary to it, however stark or subtle these factors may be. Initial explanation of the concept goes on to explain that the finished ratio is a rather essential underlying indicator of the measuring human emotional well-being. The passages relating to the tendencies of humankind to dwell stronger toward negative aspects of life is very bleak and, to me, holds incredible integrity.

There is a subliminal tone throughout the chapter that humankind really can be what the title implies: kind. The content consistently punches on the habitual lives we live as being purely serving self-interest. However I perceive that this is antagonistically challenged by what I assume the central theme of this literature will be: we have something more to us than just serving our seemingly genetic propensity of self-interest. This something may perhaps befuddle the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    reflect the image of our society, where humans are not very kind to each other…

    • 2936 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kinred by Octaiva Butler

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Treat others the way you want to be treated was the basic classroom rule we were all taught when we were younger. People often fail to realize that this rule still applies to us as we get older. A quote from George Bernard Shaw says” The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that’s the essence of inhumanity”. Meaning, it is our heartlessness that allows us to feel indifference towards others; it steals the harmony in the world. Octavia Butler allows us to explore this cruelty in her science fiction novel Kindred. The novel is based on an average black woman Dana. Dana is called back in time to the antebellum south to save her ancestors. The author uses a variety of literary devices such as conflict and imagery to prove the theme man’s inhumanity to man.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Natalie Angier's "Of altruism, Heroism, and Evolution's Gifts," she explains the various examples of human and animal selflessness- altruism. She uses examples and strategies to explore the evolutionary origin of selflessness in order to confirm that we are, by nature, ethical because it is in our greatest self interest to value altruism. Angier tries to assure a frightened post 9/11 audience that although humanity may act violently, it can still have faith in human…

    • 76 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Psy 220 Week 1

    • 369 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Chapter 2 investigates the psychology of well-being along with hedonic and eudaimonic happiness. The discussion and CheckPoint this week are related to the basic concepts found in positive psychology.…

    • 369 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Assignment 4

    • 6898 Words
    • 17 Pages

    “A need for positive regard from others is a learned need developed in early infancy. Positive regard here means the perception of experiencing oneself as making a positive difference in the experiential field of another (Nelson-Jones 2006)”…

    • 6898 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Humans are a complex creature, designed to rule this great place called earth. During this time of ruling, people have done horrific and amazing things. From beheadings and stonings to climbing the tallest mountains and crossing the largest oceans. Between Mark Twain’s “The Lowest Animal” and Stephen Gould’s “A Time of Gifts” there will be a great difference about the aspects of human existence. Mark Twain believes that mankind is evil and barbaric, while Stephen Gould thinks although evil occurs, humans come together in time of need with care and love for one another.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Doorley Good Life

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages

    After reading Doorley’s essay my interpretation of the good life has change a bit. Before I saw it as money and success. Now, I see the good life as making choices that are 100 percent authentic. Doorley’s essay also confirmed my belief that in order to live the good life you have to have happiness in something, whether that is drinking, sobriety, or a sport.…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hawthorne says, “It is to the credit of human nature, that … it loves more readily than it hates.”(122) This readiness to love and reluctance to hate in the nature of mankind shows that humans are, more often than not, good natured. If a person does not constantly dwell on the misdeed that…

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One important effect of virtue is illustrated through kindliness. Jesus was a great example of kindliness. He would hang out with the lowly and sick when nobody else would even if people criticized Him for it. Kindliness is normally the first effect of virtue developed because it has been engrained in our minds since our first years, yet it still can be a struggle to become kind. “Kindliness forbids you to be over-bearing towards your associates, and it forbids you to be grasping” (Seneca 4). Seneca is saying that kindliness is putting someone else’s interest in front of one’s own interest. Even though kindliness is a simple concept, it is often hard for people because selfishness is an epidemic in the world today. “In words and in deeds and in feelings it [Kindliness] shows itself gentle and courteous to all men.” Kindliness isn’t just being kind in actions or words, but also being calm and genuine in one’s thoughts. Even during difficult and enraging situations; kindliness…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    higher-level goals incorporate life themes andvalues (Huffman et al. 2000). The moral value of being a goodperson is a globally positioned motivational goal (Emmons 1989)that functions on a regular basis. One proof for this is the cognitivedissonance that individuals experience when their actions arediscrepant with the cognitions of being competent and sensiblepersons (Aronson 1992). Similarly, self-discrepancy theory as-sumes that individuals evaluate themselves by comparing the actualself with the normative…

    • 98 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are also myriad examples showing the positivity in human nature. On the contrary, this may be due to taught values in society. One may argue that selfless actions done for other human beings show how humans may be inherently good. An example of an action corresponding to this theme would be an opposing softball team witnessing a girl who stuck a home-run collapse with a knee injury, but instead of leaving her there they brought her around all the bases, sacrificing their victory. The girls on the opposing team say sweet comments such as: “We just wanted to help her (text 4.)” and the girl with the knee injury says how she “would do the same for her in the same situation (text 4.)” One may think that kindness is an inherent property of humans or rather that society just teaches us how helping other human beings is the correct action to take in an event. Without a society to teach man what is morally right, man would want to do what is right for themselves so they can feel satisfied with themselves. Correspondingly, one may argue that “in most cases people will not do things to harm themselves or others (text 2)” therefore proving to be inherently good. Although this may be somewhat true, there is still a lot of violence that is present, even in today’s society. People’s inner evils may be at a chance of increasing due to the others around them acting hostile, therefore reverting their mindsets to their original nature. As explained in Hobbes’ work Leviathan, man “acts morally only when they are sure that others are the same (text 6,)” explaining how morals are put into thought only when others use them. Without the confidence that one is using morals, it is said that humans’ “rational behaviour leads [them] to attack others (text 6,)” which exhibits to how people may not do things to harm others when morals are present, but act more violent when morals are…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Great Influenza

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In one of the most recent outbreaks of infectious disease since the Black Plague, The flu epidemic of 1918 caused mass hysteria around the world. During the 1918 flu outbreak, it became evident that challenging aspects of scientific research required different characteristics of scientists. In this excerpt from “The Great Influenza”, John M. Barry describes in detail about many ideas relating to this event, including the side of a scientist and the methodologies of research. The author analyzed the tactics and qualities of scientists of the time to paint a picture of uncertainty and certainty that faced the early 20th century affected by the flu. To convey to his audience what a scientist’s or researcher’s role consists of, Barry uses syntax, exemplification, figurative language, and diction to elaborate.…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    As Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung once said, “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of a mere being.” In other words, man’s purpose in life is to help one another find the good in a world of malevolence. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, it becomes apparent to the reader the contrast in shades between the good and the bad. Each person here on Earth has two parts of his or her being: light and dark. It is the side people choose which defines them. Take for example Ronald Reagan. He could have easily continued with his successful career as a movie star. But instead, he chose to move into the realm of politics, where greed and corruption rule. His mission? To be the voice for those who have none, and to fight for the common good of our nation. The world would be perfect if everyone chose the light side. But like a classic movie, if there is a ‘good guy’, there must also be a ‘bad guy’. And so a divide is created. Humanity must speak up for what is right and moral, see the goodness in everything, and to realize that each small random act of kindness is equal to many unkind acts. Therefore, one must agree that human nature is essentially good.…

    • 1374 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Thesis: Believing in who you are and what your purpose in life, sets the standards on which you live. Shelley Coulter…

    • 2097 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nature of man is such that he is born with a fondness for profit” This quote is directly from Hsun Tzu’s writing “Man’s Nature is Evil”. The first sentence basically declares that because of man’s nature being evil, all of the goodness that he does comes from his conscious activity (meaning he would have to think about it, or remember something that was taught to him.) The second sentence says that he is born with the desire to do things that is beneficial to him. It later on explains that if he continues to give in to this desire, his sense of courtesy will…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays