Human behavior is dictated by both nature and nurture.
Read the following text; Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature
By David Hume
1742
1. PART A: Which of the following best describes a central idea of the text?
A. Morality is black and white, and those who argue against this use flawed logic.
B. Humans are inherently evil and only do good deeds for their own benefit.
C. The debate regarding human nature is logically flawed.
D. It is better to disengage from society all together to avoid the question of
morality.
2. PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “We find new disputes that are not founded on some ambiguity in the
expression; and I am persuaded that the present dispute, concerning the dignity
or meanness of human nature, is not more exempt from it than any other.”
(Paragraph 3)
B. “That there is a natural difference between merit and demerit, virtue and vice,
wisdom and folly, no reasonable man will deny….” (Paragraph 4)
C. “When we find a man who arrives at such a pitch of wisdom, as is very
uncommon, we pronounce him a wise man: so that to say there are few wise
men in the world, is really to say nothing; since it is only by their scarcity that
they merit that appellation.” (Paragraph 7)
D. “I feel a pleasure in doing good to my friend, because I love him; but do not love
him for the sake of that pleasure.” (Paragraph 10)
3. PART A: According to Hume, what type of people tend to focus on the meanness of man?
A. Hume describes this type of people as either eloquent or ridiculous.
B. Hume believes that all people are interested in human nature, but lack the
capabilities or education to make logical conclusions about it.
C. Hume describes these people as indifferent to country and community, for
those are the only people who are distanced and cynical enough to be
interested in man’s meanness.
D. Hume places these people in two categories: those who condemn human
nature and those who glorify it.
