Ten theories of human nature - Leslie Stevenson

What is our place in the universe? Why are we here? Ten Theories of Human Nature, Fifth Edition, is an introduction to some of the most influential developments in Western and Eastern thought that attempt to answer these and other existential questions. The book compresses into a small space the essence of such ancient traditions as Confucianism, Hinduism, and the Old and New Testaments, as well as the theories of Plato, Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, and Jean-PaulSartre, and it does so in a way that helps readers understand how humanity has struggled to comprehend its nature. To underscore the similarities and differences among the many theories, the authors examine each on four points - the nature of the universe, the nature of humanity, the diagnoses of the ills ofhumanity, and the proposed cure for these problems. Not endorsing any one theory, they include critical discussion throughout to encourage readers to think for themselves, along with suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. This fifth edition features a new chapter on Buddhism and includes a completely revised chapter on Darwinian theories - rewritten and reorganized in terms of three main waves of Darwinian theorizing about human nature, uncluding evolutionary psychology.Additional changes for clarity were also made to the Historical Interlude, the chapters on the Bible and on Kant's theories, and the conclusion, which was revised to confront more explicitly the perceived clash between Darwinism and theism, and the controversial issues of progress in history, andevolution and ethics.