Are people naturally destructive, immoral, predatory and self-seeking, only to be kept in order by harsh laws and fiercely deterrent mandatory sentences? Or are men and women naturally orderly, merciful, humane and bred with a need for justice and mutual aid? ... when it comes to the law some sort of distinction can be drawn. Are you a Shylock or a Bassanio?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The law reflects a tension between viewing humans as inherently flawed needing control versus inherently good needing justice.
- In plain terms
- Laws depend on whether we think people are bad by nature or good by nature.
- What can you take from it?
- Legal systems reflect assumptions about human nature.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you believe people are born good or bad?
- How should laws reflect human nature?
Another view
The binary choice oversimplifies the complexity of human behavior.
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