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Self-existence, Altru-existence and Human Nature
SHI Zhong-yang, ZHENG Da-hua
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2022.11.014
Taiwan Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
The question whether human nature is good or evil has been argued about throughout the history. This paper contends that man’s actions are driven by his needs for self-existence and altru-existence. Moral judgment is mostly determined by social norms, and different times may give different judgments to human actions. Whether man is good or evil depends on the actions taken in the situations and from the balance between self-existence and altru-existence in him. The balance point between self-existence and altru-existence may vary from person to person and from culture to culture. Even in the same person, at the different stages of his life or in different situations, the position of the balance point may change accordingly. This paper also applies the idea of balance point to the explanation of the formation of the Chinese national character.
human nature, self-existence, altru-existence, balance point
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, November 2022, Vol. 12, No. 11, 1180-1188
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