The article, “Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature”
The article, “Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature” is the literary work of a Scottish philosopher by the name of David Hume. In the philosophical analysis, the author discusses the morality of human beings and the forces that push them into those attributes. David Hume categorizes people into two distinct groups based on the morality of their actions. In the classification, some people are extremely good and those with ill intentions. However, all human beings tend to do good to those people with a connection to them. David Hume discourages comparison of people to animals due to the distinguishing factor where people can reason and develop an idea to perfection. The morality of actions conducted by human beings depends on various reasons such as the relationship with other people, which indicate the general goodness of human beings.
Summary
Humanity exists in two categories with one part terming human nature as good, and the others perceive it as bad. However, those opposing the ideology of man as good are not necessarily enemies of humanity. David Hume explains that both positive and negative perceptions of human beings modify their characteristics in either living up to the expectations or changing positively to prove the proponents of the idea wrong. However, understanding the nature of man cannot result from comparison with animals (Hume 1). Firstly, animals possess a mind with a narrow perception and confined to their respective regions of existence. On the other hand, human beings can form judgments on actions performed by those around them as well as make plans beyond their period of existence. Therefore, the two elements of comparison exist in different worlds making the contrast unrealistic.
Apart from comparing man with animals
Apart from comparing man with animals, it is also challenging to offer the same comparison between human beings. In the population, it is common to find diversified talents. Therefore, judging one person using the skills or attributes of another person is misleading. Most people in the society are biased towards talents that are not common in the community. Therefore, those people with unique attributes tend to find less support as those with abilities, which many people can relate. The actions of man tend to be right in relation to the people benefiting from the efforts. For example, a parent can sacrifice for the good of the children. The connection is the fundamental reason behind the positive actions committed by the individual as a means of showing love. Therefore, human beings aim at undertaking positive activities based on different reasons behind the actions.
Discussion
David Hume categorizes human beings either a bad or good. From the superficial understanding, the reader might assume that those perceived as bad may harbor negative intentions towards humanity. However, the author clarifies that the opinions of such people may be instrumental in shaping the actions of the society by avoiding the activities labeled as negative. Similarly, the group of people that term human beings as good may motivate the population into living according to the notions making the society better. The explanation depicts that both groups of people contribute towards a better understanding of the human nature. David Hume goes ahead to ascertain that human beings have common attributes that differentiate them from animals. For example, he states that human beings develop friendships and personal connections, which influence their actions towards each other.
Therefore, the elimination of any personal ties would make the actions of man vary.
Therefore, the elimination of any personal ties would make the actions of man vary. For example, it is impossible for a person to sacrifice for someone without any personal connection. The human operations rely on the feelings expressed towards other people and the potential benefits towards the individual. The conclusion expressed by the author indicates that human beings are good (Hume 1). However, their actions differ for various reasons. For example, some people do well for personal gain or the benefits of those close to them. Apart from the positive attributes, other people revenge on those who wrong them as an indication of the connections between the persons. It is, therefore, safe to conclude that dignity and meanness of human beings are not constant. On the contrary, it depends on the specific person in question as well as the connection with the other people involved in the process.
Evaluation
Firstly, the article is fascinating. The author captures the attention of the audience by making a claim in the first paragraph and offering explanations and examples to prove the point. It is interesting to note that David Hume goes against the expectation of many readers by discouraging the comparison between human beings and animals as well as between two human beings. The explanation is sensible because the abilities possessed by human beings and animals are incredibly different (Hume 1). For example, animals live under the instinct of survival and reproduction. On the other hand, human beings can differentiate between good and evil, make plans decades ahead and ensure the plans materialize to the best outcome possible. The explanation gives the reader a clear understanding of the thesis and makes the article very interesting to read. I agree that a comparison between human beings is not conclusive either.
People have a different preference towards different gestures and actions. Therefore, their judgment is bound to change with an inclination towards their preferred notions. However, the article might not be suitable for an ordinary audience. For example, some of the words used in the section are very complex. It would necessitate constant referencing to the dictionary for a complete understanding of the text. Therefore, readers from a higher educational background might enjoy the book, but those from a poor educational background might find the piece quite challenging to comprehend. Despite the challenges, the article delivers the information in a short and precise manner making it easier to grasp the information. David Hume does not bore the audience with unnecessary details. Each paragraph delivers a different point that leads back to the topic and theme in the article.
Conclusion
David Hume uses the article to analyze the nature of human beings concerning dignity and meanness. From the article, it is evident that human beings are good generally. However, certain forces determine actions undertaken by the people. For example, personal relations are familiar characters for many people, and they influence each decision conducted by the people. As much as many scholars believe in comparing human beings to other animals to understand their nature, David Hume discourages the practice based on the different characteristics that make the comparison bias and unrealistic. However, he concludes that human beings shape the behavior of other people from the need to fit into the society. The analysis depicts the good nature of people and the forces behind their actions making the article very interesting.
Work Cited
Hume, David. "Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature." CommonLit, 1742, www.commonlit.org/en/texts/of-the-dignity-or-meanness-of-human-nature. Accessed 6 Sept. 2018.
