Human Nature

• Marx:

  • Co-operative, generous, altruistic, rational
  • The competitive, selfish and acquisitive capitalist economy corrupts human nature and must be removed
  • Human nature ‘plastic’: malleable and shaped by society + circumstance
  • Individuals ‘deformed’ by Capitalism as they cannot reach their true potential
• Luxemburg:

  • Human nature ‘plastic’: malleable and shaped by society + circumstance
  • The competitive, selfish and acquisitive capitalist economy corrupts human nature and must be removed
  • Co-operative, generous, altruistic, rational
• Webb:

  • Human nature ‘plastic’: malleable and shaped by society + circumstance
  • The competitive, selfish and acquisitive capitalist economy corrupts human nature and must be removed
  • Co-operative, generous, altruistic, rational
• Crosland:

  • Uncontrolled Capitalism can corrupt human nature but with reform can work well
  • Human nature ‘plastic’: malleable and shaped by society + circumstance
  • Co-operative, generous, altruistic, rational
• Giddens:

  • Reflexivity: humans are not passive but actively engage in shaping social environments
  • Fluid and adaptable to social change
  • Regulated Capitalism can neutralise the corrosive effects it could usually have on community and fraternity
  • Co-operative, generous, altruistic, rational