Human Nature

2/12/10. A colleague asked me whether my opinions about human nature have changed over the years. Here is my response:

• Human nature is deeply woven with contradictions, conflicts, and discontents.
  
• Genetics and environments are equally important contributions to understanding human nature.
  
• The proper use of reason is to recognize reason’s limitations. Reason is the “rider” holding the reins on the “elephant” of unconscious desires and values.
  
• Understanding human nature springs from the mystery of the generation of consciousness.
• Consciousness is the basic experience of humans on which our social and personal relationships rest.
  
• We do not understand how consciousness is produced nor do we understand its full potential.
  
• There is little science that applies to our understanding of human nature. So our understanding of human nature takes the form of stories, religions, ideologies, and beliefs.