Single Idea 5764

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature]

Full Idea

When people fall into wickedness they lose their human nature.

Gist of Idea

When people fall into wickedness they lose their human nature

Source

Boethius (The Consolations of Philosophy [c.520], IV.III)

Book Reference

Boethius: 'The Consolations of Philosophy', ed/tr. Watts,V.E. [Penguin 1969], p.125


A Reaction

This is a view I find quite sympathetic, but which is a million miles from the modern view. Today's paper showed a picture of a famous criminal holding a machine gun and a baby. We seem to delight in the idea that human nature is partly wicked.