| Popis: |
This chapter focuses on Niebuhr’s views of human nature, the intellectual foundation on which his worldview is grounded. A dualistic view of human nature (a predisposition toward self-interest/evil, a potential for good) underlies all of his work. First is a discussion of the biblical conception of human nature which he embraced, starting with the notion of pride (which he viewed as the root of all human folly), which leads to insecurity (the consequence of pride), which results in will-to-power (a flawed attempt to address insecurity), from which, for Niebuhr, flow all the conflicts and wars in human history. The discussion then moves to the classical and modern conceptions of human nature, which Niebuhr ultimately rejected. In Niebuhr’s view, all of this leads to the inability of science, law, institutions, education, and rationality (among other things) to tame human nature and eradicate evil and/or ultimately conflict. |
