Humane Nature in Political Thinking

In Whither Political Philosophy, Daniel Stepsen claims that “The assumptions held about human nature are the key for understanding any political philosophy.”   Humans’ inherent characteristics including the ways of thinking, feeling, and acting have shaped and will continue to shape our society.   In fact, western philosophers have asked questions about these characteristics that have dated back to the most prominent philosophers including Plato, Aristotle, and Niccolo Machiavelli who all have their own individual takes on the subject.   They each have views on how human nature is both advantageous and disadvantageous to politics because it presents not only social behavioral norms, but also obstacles that hinder a carefree livelihood.
In The Republic, Plato introduces the correlation between the just individual and the just society.   The just individual is one whose body is in full control of the soul; in which case would produce a harmonious, happy, efficient, just society.   Like human nature, justice is a set of behavioral norms that structure a working state.   Plato views justice as structural both politically and individually--political justice in the city and individual justice in the soul.   He goes on to explain how human nature’s tendency to meddle can lead to a dysfunctional or unjust society and how it is in the state’s best interest if each member of society plays the role that best suits him/her.   In other words, a farmer must only farm and do nothing else.   He explains that as a result of proper specialization, “...more things of each kind are produced, and better, and easier, when one man works at one thing, which suits his nature, and at the proper time, and leaves the others alone.” (Plato, 369c)   This principle ensures not only the prevention of meddling but also the maintenance of the three classes of society--the producers, the warriors, and the rulers.   The three societal classes guarantee that those who are fit to rule will rule and all others,... [continues]

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