Monday, January 13, 2020
Evil in the Environment Essay
John Locke is a philosopher known for introducing various significant concepts to different fields of studies. His work encompasses the fields of psychology, political science, and philosophy. One of his main contributions is his assertion that the human mind is completely empirical.            This principle would lead one to believe that every human being is born into this world having the same capacity. All human minds are empty slates (tabula rasa) when one is just born. (Hooker, 1999) Behavior is acquired through the various empirical experiences that a human being undergoes. Moral behavior stems from an individual’s empirical experiences. (Hooker, 1999) As such, it can be assumed that all immoral behavior or all â€Å"evil†is the product of the environment rather than individual. (Hooker, 1999) Such line of reasoning will lead us to assume that evil from the environment can be eradicated by a simple change in human thinking and behavior. This is known as the third â€Å"premise†of the enlightenment thinkers.            The said premise remains to be significant in today’s time and age. For one, it helps people today realize that the evil that pervades in society today can be erased by humans themselves. Moreover, it teaches society that there is still hope for a better world and the fulfillment of such dreams lies in the reformation of human beings and society itself.            The primary effect of such premise on society is that it gives the responsibility for the evil in the world on the shoulders of people. Fingers cannot be pointed to the heavens or to other creatures to blame them for the evil that continues to exist in the world. Rather, the premise asserts that the evil in the world is the product of human misbehavior. Human wrong doing has created the immorality that exists in the world today. However, the most important lesson that Locke’s principle teaches us today is that just as the responsibility for the evil in the world lies in our hands, so does the responsibility to change and eradicate such evil.            There are many ways by which humans can reform and change their environment. Locke had asserted that education is the primary way by which the moral and intellectual character of the human being can be changed for the better. (Hooker, 1999) Such assertion remains to be significant in today’s society. What the premise tells us is that education is even more valuable today for it is the way by which the world can be made better. Education exists not simply for the betterment of the individual’s own life. It is not for the sole purpose of helping someone find a better job, a better way of life. Education’s primary purpose is to help every human being to determine how he can help make the world a better place. It is through education that society can reform its ways and help remove evil from the environment. Thus, the role of education is society is exemplified by the third â€Å"premise.†The role of education becomes ever more important and significant basing on what has been stated in the premise. The future of today’s society lies in the hands of human beings. The betterment of the world and the eradication of evil are the responsibilities of all human beings. Just as they can create evil, they can erase them. Reformation of one’s ways is the manner by which evil in our â€Å"faulty environment†can be obliterated. Works Cited: Hooker, Richard. Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought. 1999. World Civilizations. 12 Dec. 2006 from: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/PREPHIL.HTM.
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