Introduction
No one can avoid being corrupted in the corrupted society
Human nature basically refers to the characteristics that distinguish one person from another. Some of these characteristics include acting, thinking, and feeling. These characteristics may or may not be influenced by the environment in which the person lives. The question how environment shapes human nature? If it corrupts it has been subjected to public debate for a long time. Some of the great philosophers that delved into this topic are Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Marquis de Sade. On the one hand, we are all children of nature and we all have inborn vices and characteristics and thus, the environment cannot corrupt us more than we are corrupted from the very beginning. On the other hand, people are social beings and we are subjected to the influence of the surroundings, we are in, we learn from each other and borrow some modes of behavior that would help us survive in the world. Thus, no matter how good and innocent you are and whether you are a Christian or f Buddhist, if you are placed in the corrupted environment, you cannot avoid being corrupted yourself.
Contrasting views of de Sade and Rousseau
Those two great thinkers of their time provided contrasting views on the development of human self and the state of nature. Rousseau understood that the evil acts that characterize humans today, resulted from the original nature (Rousseau 52-72). The ancient man, in his state of nature, was actually at peace and naturally kind hearted. On the other hand, De Sade understood that the natural state of man was characterized by acts of evil. In other words, man is only happy when he is committing evil. Rousseau held the view that human beings are naturally good, but corrupted by the things that bedevil the society (Rousseau 52-72).
Rousseau viewed social aspects and inclination to science as some of the things that corrupted the nature of man. According to him, human beings can only get back to the state they had at birth by being close to nature and nothing else. To a greater extent, de Sade depicts human beings as innately evil, and as people who take pleasure from hurting others. In addition, he argued that for humans to be happy in their state, they must be at liberty to pursue all their passions and desires, no matter how unkind they may be (De Sade 137). In short, while de Sade held the view that man’s the happiest and the natural state is committing evil acts, Rousseau held the view that man is fundamentally good, that all virtue emanate from a natural state, an innate distaste to inflict harm to other people.
The society corrupts our nature
Does the society really corrupt our nature, regardless of the values it is based on, whether Christian or Buddhist? The answer is yes. Christians hold, a resounding believe that the self is immaterial and spiritual. In addition, man must not fully base his senses on truth, but on faith. Pope Alexander, in the Essay on Man, says that God does not associate with evil because He is not evil. Basing on this principle, evils, themselves to be condemned, may result in virtues (Pope 344-350). For instance, the pope held the view that if a person is motivated by envy, he may actually develop bravery and wish to imitate the accomplishments of others. Similarly, the greedy person may easily attain the virtue of discretion. However, the truth is that despite their being religious morals, the society is still corrupting the nature of man. This part of the paper supports the view that regardless of whether a society is based on Christian or Buddhist values, human nature is still being affected by the society. This part will be supported by three examples: sexuality, violence and passion.
Sexuality
Sexuality is one thing that affects humanity. Unlike Rousseau, who believed that sexual drives during adolescence could be transformed into compassion, De Sade believed that sexuality is indeed inherently violent. Rousseau, on the contrary, held the position that sex can only be of greater good and not root of violence. Rousseau in his argument provides that the emergence of civilization changed the view of sex from what it was before. Immediately, sexuality was associated with pervasion, power ad even dominance. However, sexuality even from the Christian point of view was innate, meaning that man did not learn it from anywhere. From the beginning, sex is associated with evil. During early times, there was no competition as Rousseau holds.
Juana also in, the answers to the most illustrious, plainly indicates that to some extent canon law was subordinate to civil wielded by men in power. For instance, she indicates that a Portuguese missionary lacked the standing to approach the Pharaoh (Juana 250). Similarly, she shows how the power of Queen Ester was used to save the Jews from Destruction (Juana 250). All these were happening in a society that was very close to God.
Violence
Violence also characterizes the corrupt nature of human beings. De Sade held the view that violence is the true spirit of nature. What this means is that the basic spirit of nature erupts the cruelty of evildoers and the torture of humans (De Sade 137). This is true to the extent that no matter how civilization tries to get rid of these bad aspects, they are still manifested in wars and other forms of violence. Supporting this view, Basho, in the Narrow road to the deep north, in as much the society was based on religious principles; members of the Fujiwara family had established a place called Hiraizumi where people were murdered (Basho 662). Juana also in, the answers to the most illustrious, indicates that despite the society in biblical times being religious and close to God, Abraham had to beg God to forgive people who were using civil law in Sodom and Gomorrah (Juana 253). Basically, this implies that the society influences people regardless of religious teachings.
De Sade differs significantly from Rousseau on a return to a state of nature. According to Rousseau, it will make a man to be at peace with himself, while de Sade sees it as a factor that can trigger violence and lust given that people are free get to what they want. Personally, I agree with De Sade because the main function of a society is actually to keep evil acts or violence under control. That is, without the social controls of modern society, humanity’s cruelty will surface. For instance, there are many rape cases today because societies and controls are not sufficient enough to control the inner nature of human beings. This assertion is supported by Faust, in Part 1: Prologue in Heaven. Faust indicates that the behavior of Faust is being caused by the devil which means they are evil, but God tolerates it because Faust is in society in which people make mistakes to survive (Goethe 102-104).
Conclusion
In the end, there are some unavoidable differences between the views of Rousseau and De Sade. I support the views advanced by De Sade. Most importantly, the disorder of contemporary man is actually not as a result of the wickedness of his time, but instead as a result of innate virtue.
Works Cited
Basho, Matsuo. The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches, New York, NY: Penguin Press, 1967. Print.
De Sade, Marquis. Philosophy in the Bedroom,New York, NY: Wooley Comics,1992, Print.
Goethe, Wolfgang. Faust Part 1: Prologue in Heaven. New York, NY: New Direction, 1957. Print.
Juana, Sor. “The Poets Answer to the most illustrious Sor Filotea de La Cruz.” in Repuestas. New York, NY: Feminist Press at CUNY, 1994. Print.
Pope, Alexander. Essay on Man. Oxford: Clarerdone Press, 1733. Print.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Confessions. London, United Kingdom: Reeves and Turner, 1861. Print.