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Question
What does 'human nature' mean?
Answer
The traits shared by all humans simply for being human — the same in everyone, before culture shapes you.
Question
Aristotle's function argument?
Answer
Everything has a special activity; ours is reasoning; so our nature is to be rational animals and the good life reasons well.
Question
What is a thing's 'function' (Aristotle)?
Answer
The activity it's meant to do, and do well — an eye to see, a knife to cut, a human to reason.
Question
Main objection to the function argument?
Answer
It assumes nature gives us a 'purpose', but unlike a made knife, nobody obviously built humans for a job.
Question
One reason to believe in a shared nature?
Answer
Some reactions — fear, laughter, needing others — turn up in every human culture.
Question
One reason to doubt a fixed nature?
Answer
Humans differ hugely across cultures and history, so little may be truly the same in everyone.
Question
The two questions inside 'human nature'?
Answer
Is there a fixed nature at all? And if so, what is it like?
Question
What does 'the rational animal' mean?
Answer
Aristotle's label for humans: animals, but the ones whose special activity is reasoning.
Question
Main objection to Mencius?
Answer
If we're born good, why is cruelty so common? (He replies: the sprouts wither without care.)
Question
Nature vs nurture in the debate?
Answer
We have inborn traits AND are shaped by upbringing — so the real question is how much is fixed.
Question
How do you reach the top band in Section A?
Answer
Weigh competing views using all the evidence and reach a reasoned conclusion — don't just describe.
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Human nature
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