"We cannot be good without ceasing to be human"

It is our intent through this human nature field project to explore concepts of good and evil and formulate some conclusive information to answer whether or not, or to what degree, humans are innately evil. Understanding and applying the fundamentals of utilitarian theory is necessary for us to understand human behavior and the manner in which we equate good and bad with happiness and suffering, respectively. We will also be examining the system of mutual consideration, ideas of hedonism, demnic temptation, desire and indulgence, and conscience. We predict that much of the degree to which humans are good or evil is learned through social interaction and not necessarily convincingly innate. We will test our predictions using empirical data gained from human surveying and literary support.

Literary Resources:

"Morality, rules, and consequences : a critical reader" edited by Brad Hooker, Elinor Mason, and Dale E. Miller 2000

"Imperceptible harms and benefits" edited by Michael J. Almeida 2000

"Contemporary ethics : taking account of utilitarianism" William H. Shaw 1999

"Meeting the shadow : the hidden power of the dark side of humanity" edited by Jeremiah Abrams and Connie Zweig 1990

"The ecological conscience; values for survival" Robert Disch 1970

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Here is a list of responses that have been posted to this Study...

• Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself, I'm a Man of ..... (2/12/01) [ Contributor: Hays Cummins-Section: Cummins ]
• Feelin' groovy II (opps) (2/8/01) [ Contributor: Lyndsey, Alec and Jordan-Section: Cummins ]
• Feelin' groovy (2/8/01) [ Contributor: Lyndsey, Alec and Jordan-Section: Cummins ]
• Yeah Homos! (2/7/01) [ Contributor: Caroline and Marta-Section: Cummins ]
• Messing up & correcting it... Another necessary evil (2/6/01) [ Contributor: Leesa, Abeni, & Heather-Section: Cummins ]
• Your Field Study Project... A necessary evil (2/6/01) [ Contributor: Leesa, Abeni, & Heather-Section: Cummins ]
• Evilness (2/6/01) [ Contributor: Melissa Raftery, Brandy McQueary, and Nikki Rudnick-Section: Cummins ]
• l&s response 3 (2/6/01) [ Contributor: leslie and sarah-Section: cummins ]
• reponse 1 (2/5/01) [ Contributor: j andrew vankat mp loeffelman ep johnson-Section: cummins ]

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