Human Nature, Hope & Ice Cream

[jingle]

[sigh]

We're here to talk about human nature.

Let us begin.

As a general rule, I try to end each of my video essays on a hopeful note

usually by highlighting a positive example or some alternative to

whatever sociopolitical issue I’m discussing.

And most people appreciate that approach.

Shawn: "Counterpoint, humans are terrible: Limp Biscuit, slavery...

The prosecution rests."

but inevitably there are a few cynics who argue that human nature itself

prevents us from changing the way the world works.

Smith: "Human beings are a disease...

a cancer of this planet.

You are a plague."

House: "We are selfish, base animals.

If we try real hard, we can occasionally

aspire to something that is less than pure evil."

Rorschach: "Humans are savage in nature."

These cynics fall back on the false myth

that human nature is somehow naturally selfish,

domineering, or predatory.

Spoiler: It's not.

But they cherry-pick the worst moments in history

to back up their assertion.

pointing to war, poverty,

or other forms of systemic oppression.

While those injustices are indeed real,

they're the result of structural issues

and not a fatal flaw in humanity itself.

Mother Gothel: "The outside world is a dangerous place...

filled with horrible, selfish people."

[growl]

The idea that we have a monster lurking within our genes,

isn't new.

Nor is it based in science.

But it is, nonetheless,

a common perspective shared by many otherwise decent people.

"In conclusion,