Nature vs Nurture?

While reading over some of the essays on Volatire in class, I couldn't help but to think about the famous psychology theory of Nature vs Nurture that has caused some major debates. The theory argues over whether people are the way they are because they were born that way, or whether the life they live in molds them into the person they will soon become. In simpler terms, is a person the way they are because of nature, or nurture? This theory popped into my head while I was reading over some of the philosophers studied in Robert Adam's essay. The philosophers were theorizing over good and evil, and why God made evil on earth, or whether evil was inevitable. For example, Saint Augustine thought that God created a world of good but the decisions of Satan made the evil in the world. On the other hand, Bernard Mandeville believed that "man is inherently vicious and selfish, and that most virtues are simply well-disguised and publicly-approved vices" (Adams 82). In other words, he thought that evil was man-made. Mandeville's theory would go hand and hand with the side of nature, that a person is the way they are and the things they do are already predetermined by the brain. In the book, Forty Studies that Changed Psychology, I learned that those who believe in the nurture side of the argument are called behaviorists. Behaviorism states, "that all human behavior is controlled by environmental factors... [and] that experience is the primary or exclusive architect of human nature" (Hock 19). Saint Augustine would most likely agree with this theory.

Now it's time for my opinion on this heated debate! I think that people are a mixture of nature and nurture. I believe some things are predetermined, like your sense of humor or the way you deal with things, but I think that things like your likes and dislikes are molded by the people around you and the experiences that you face. I also believe that God created evil for a reason. I think everything happens for a reason. Everytime something unfortunate happens to me, I think that this must have happened to show me something or to make me stronger; it is all a part of God's bigger plan for me.

What do you guys think? Tell me your ideas and let's have a blog convo that will make Mrs. Clinch ecstatic! Comment comment comment!

Works Cited

Hock, Roger R.. Forty Studies that Changed Psychology. 5th. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.

My Philosophy

My philosophy on life is to live it to the fullest. If you want to do something, then do it because you only have one life and you might as well live it the way you want to. I hate people who care about what others' think and revolve their life around that. Screw everyone else and do the things that you love most, even if it makes you look like a total nerd. I hate people who give into the crowd, people who do things just to fit in. If you don't want to do something, don't do it. For example, in The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Gogol wants to fit into the American lifestyle but since he is Indian, he finds it hard for him to adjust. I support Gogol's decision because it's his choice and it was the way he wanted to live his life. Just because his parents held on to their Indian backround, does not mean that Gogol had to hang onto his. I say whatever makes a person happy is what the person should do.
I also like to look at my life with an optimistic point of view life Pangloss from Candide. I like that no matter what happened to Pangloss, he always held onto his belief that life was for the best. I believe that everything happens for a reason and it's a part of God's plan for you. Even the mistakes you make, shape you into the person you later form into. You should be happy with what God has given you, even if it is not the best. I also believe in karma, and because of that I treat people the way I would want to be treated. (I know sounds cliche).
Overall I believe that hardwork pays off in the end and that people who live their lives the way they want to have the overall happiest lives.

My Favorite Summer Reading: All The King's Men

After reading all of the summer reading books, I would have to say that my favorite was All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. It dealt with the classic theme of the American Dream and how the main character strived to achieve the dream, but never actually received it. The rise and fall of Willie Stark was really entertaining and I couldn't help thinking that this is probably what real politicians go through. I never realized what went through a politicians head until I read through Jack Burden's eyes and read Willie's experiences: whether to work for the sake of goodness or work for the sake of money, all the affairs involved, and how politics can change one's life.
I thought it was interesting that Willie started off as a country boy and had the best intentions at heart when he first started running for politics. Willie's need to do good shows a side of the American Dream that most people start off looking to do. Once he received more experience, Wille began to change into the business-type; wearing a white suit and tie, but still hanging on to his past with his old felt hat. He strives to do good, wants to build a hospital for anyone to be able to use and not have to pay anything. He seeks the perfect doctor that also has the ambition of working purely for the goodness of it: Adam Stanton. The fall of Willie begins when he gives into Gummy Larson's offer to help him with the hospital plans, involving reasons not purely for the goodness of it. Even though Willie tries to take back his agreement with Larson, he never gets to because of his tragic death, thus leading to his intangibility of the American Dream.
Some people view the American Dream as working hard in order to make a lot of money, to own the best of things. I think Robert Penn Warren showed both of the sides of the American Dream through Willie Stark. He started off working for the goodness of it, then he fell into the trap of wanting to have the fame and fortune.
After reading the book, I had several questions. Was Willie really a "good" man? Willie's wife said she was forced to think that Willie was a good man. Did Willie do all he wanted to do during his term as governor? Will his legacy live on after he is dead and Larson is the replaced governor? What was the role of Jack in the story? I look forward to discussing this in class!!