There Is No Such Thing as the Essential Nature of Man

There is no such thing as the Essential Nature of Man.

What is a human identity, why do we have an urge to separate ourselves from animals and seek individualism as a species? Is there such a thing as an essential nature of man? In order to determine this, we must first define what an essential nature is. The dictionary defines nature as:

1. The material world and its phenomena.

2. The forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world: the laws of nature.

3. The world of living things and the outdoors: the beauties of nature.

4. A primitive state of existence untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or artificiality.

5. Theology. Humankind's natural state as distinguished from the state of grace.

6. A kind or sort: confidences of a personal nature.

7. The essential characteristics and qualities of a person or thing:

8. The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament:

9. The natural or real aspect of a person, place, or thing.

10. The processes and functions of the body.

The dictionary continues to define essential as:

1. Constituting or being part of the essence of something; inherent.

2. Basic or indispensable, necessary: essential ingredients.

When combined, they allow us to define an essential nature as the fundamental characteristics shared by all humans; they are inherent in all man, and not shared by the animal kingdom.

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