Hurkas Account of Human Nature - Essay Example

Hurka’s Account of Human Nature Hurka’s Account of Human Nature (Perfectionism) Perfectionism in human nature has been described in many ways by different minds and disciplines. In ethics for example, perfectionism means the state of which a human has attained an utmost satisfaction and optimal quality in mental, spiritual, material and physical being. Hurka on the other hand has his own understanding of the concept of perfectionism. He says that perfectionism is characterized by certain properties and values that are desirable and accounts for a good life. It is the good life that develops these properties to higher levels and realizes the central part of the nature of humans. This theory differs in its different forms but all these forms share the fundamental idea that the development of human nature can only be developed by good things. The perfectionist does not necessarily believes that there is anyone perfect, but they believe that someone can actually live a perfect life through the practice of steadfast perseverance in obtaining the best life in the lifetime. For Hurka, perfectionism is good life. Indeed, everybody needs a good life and many would do anything to attain good life. There are properties that one has to adopt in order to have a good life such as rationality (Hurka. 1993). Human nature is defined by the need to lead a good life since no one wants a bad life; it is the natural need of good life that makes us human. In fact, this is the essence of human’s pursuit to civilization. Everybody wants to make life easier to live and be happy. Someone who does not need a good life can be considered insane or less of a human for that matter. Human nature therefore comes hand in hand with perfectionism, which defines good life. This subject has caused many arguments. The properties and values considered to give a meaning to perfectionism can lack in some individuals, but does this isolate them from the human bracket? Does it make them less human? Properties like rationality have been considered as part of human nature but this can be easily argued as it entails or insinuates that beings like fetus and toddlers of low or no rationality levels are not of human mature. It is clear that these properties develop with time. Human beings are far much different from other species of life forms. Humans are the most developed forms of life and there is a level of being humans have achieved to reach such an extent. Human nature must therefore be held with greater responsibilities that touches the areas of morality, rationality, spirituality and sociology (Hurka, 1993). There are many life forms and the only values that distinguish them from humans are these properties explained by Hurka. For example, Goats can communicate but they cannot utilize a more refined and intelligent communication means like speech or language. There are handicapped people who cannot use the form either - even toddlers. However, throughout Hurka’s argument, he does not specify that people of such disabilities are less human. He only argues the fact that human’s nature entails the ability to have certain qualities that provides good life. These properties can be developed; as a matter of facts, no one is born with the properties, but learns them as they live through life. This capability alone makes them humans. The properties that ensure good life are very fundamental to the nature of humans. There are other properties pr values that one can do without or are not of great importance as compared to others. For example, evolution and natural selection followed only those qualities that were of greater importance to survival. This does not mean that other values are not important, they are important as well; they compliment the most significant once in my opinion. Creativity through the application of arms is a projection of a compliment to the thoughts of the mind. This is exemplary to this argument for no one can be creative without employing the mind to compute and synchronize the ideas in order to come out with something creative and beautiful. These properties are developed. No one is born rational but when people grow, through human cognitive levels, intelligence and rationality, they are able to learn. Understand their environment and the people around them and finally develop a rational point of view and decision making to ensure the forces of nature and life at large settles to an equilibrium that can sustain life (Hurka, 1993). Reason is therefore a very fundamental part of the human nature; this is the reason humans have been able to survive for a very long period of time. Humans are moral beings. They care for one another and this concern makes them stronger. Perfectionism as described by Hurka is therefore a subject of good life. People go to school in order to perfect their intelligence. Through training intelligence and knowledge are perfected through studying and experience. In the end of the day, every one attains a level of being able to provide for himself or herself and this provides a basis of happiness. In one way or another, the struggle to fight for a better life makes one a human. It is in the human nature to look for only the things that brings satisfaction; and satisfaction is what the properties are meant to attain. There are different properties shown by different people. Some properties are distinctive to humans: they distinguish man from living things, man from other animals, man from objects, man from man and man from space. This distinctiveness is what gives humans their essence, there are things that are very essential to man and give the basis of perfectionism. The human nature is distinctive; but this does not mean that all of their properties are admirable. There are qualities of humans that are not admirable. Since perfectionism is a theory that focuses in making a good life, such properties are better left in imperfection. Developing one’s nature is positive- perfectionist since the proper account that can be found in nature is its plausible indicator of value. It is deeply attractive among humans to posses a goal of developing human nature, and exercise the essential powers that human posses. This is vividly portrayed in the human’s widespread acceptance. This is a non-philosophically implicit ideal talk of living a “truly” or “fully” human life; a reason that has been adopted by various diverse philosophers: some philosophers value action while others value contemplation, some value communal life whereas others prefer solitude. In spite of these differences, all of these philosophers establish their specific values in a particular ideal of human nature, which must have intrinsic appeal (Hurka, 1993). Some of this appeal can be explained for example, nature is of great essence and developing this nature does not mean developing some tangential or temporary property. Development eventually makes us what we are. We are characterized by physical growth but development; which depicts qualitative growth that defines us and the habits we acquire such as being a lawyer or a footballer (Hurka, 1993). There are certain properties that intrinsic values are assigned to by some perfectionists’ concept of nature; which must on their own seem to be morally worth developing. If the values that do not seem so valuable are not included, the concept of nature may fail. However, this flaw is not so serious unfolding the fact that perfectionism needs to be complemented by some or other moral ideas. If the morally trivial properties are included in the concept of nature, it becomes more damaging (Hurka, 1993). This is like telling objection to the concept. Therefore, morality based on a concept id hard to accept since it flouts human’s particular judgments about concepts. Human nature is therefore defined by properties that improve the quality of life. These properties are developed over time; and it is the same properties that are distinctive in humans and make them distinguishable from other animals. Intelligence, rationality, love are some of the properties that make humans who they are. If other life forms appear with the same qualities, human’s nature would therefore be defined by the qualities they share with the environment or the space they live in, basically, human nature is defined by a vast scope of ideas that affects or influences life, especially those that creates “good life” (Hurka, 1993). References Hurka, T. (1993). Perfectionism. New York: Oxford University Press. Read More