Essay | The Root of All Evil

"A devil, a born devil, on whose nature / Nurture can never stick" (Tempest 4.1.188-190). Are people really "born a devil"? Or is evil something which is inborn in humans and is always just there? The battle between nature vs. nurture is one that has been disputed for many years. It has been scientifically proven that genes (nature) determine certain traits, such as hair or eye color. The dispute, however, is concerning what determines a person's behavioral traits. Some scientists believe that these traits, too, are determined by genes, while others feel these traits are learned from the person's environment (genealogy.about.com). The idea that evil is inborn within humans is a. controversial issue associated with these beliefs. Many believe that evil behavior in people is something that is learned and is the result of "nurturing." At the same time, others believe evil is a tendency that humans naturally are born...
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