Human nature

What is socialists overall view point on human nature

Socialists hold a fundamentally positive view of human nature, seeing people as social, co-operative, and rational beings. Unlike liberalism, which emphasises individualism and competition, socialism argues that human behaviour is socially determined and that people naturally prefer to work together for mutual benefit. This belief underpins socialist support for collective action, solidarity, and social justice. However, different strands of socialism interpret the implications of this view in distinct ways. 

What is meant by 'collective action'? What is meant by 'solidarity'?

• People working together to achieve a goal - e.g. workers striking for better working conditions - tangible

• Solidarity -> Mutual interest working together to achieve that goal - cooperation but you do not necessarily need to act on this can be supporting a mutual interest/value - intangible

Agreement 1

Agreement 1: Humans Are Co-operative and Social 

All socialists agree that humans are social creatures who thrive through co-operation, not competition. 

• Revolutionary Socialism  – Karl Marx & Rosa Luxemburg 

  • Marx believed that capitalism distorts human nature, alienating individuals from their social essence. In Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts (1844), he wrote: 

    • “The human essence is no abstraction inherent in each single individual. In its reality, it is the ensemble of the social relations.” 

  • Luxemburg saw solidarity as a natural human impulse, essential for revolutionary change. 

• Social Democracy– Beatrice Webb & Anthony Crosland 

  • Webb believed that human nature could be improved through education and social reform, and that people are naturally inclined to act morally and co-operatively when supported by rational institutions. Crosland argued that people are motivated not only by material gain but also by a desire to contribute to a fairer society. 

• The Third Way – Anthony Giddens 

  • Giddens accepted the social nature of humans but emphasised the need to balance individual autonomy with community responsibility. In The Third Way (1998), he argued that no one can be self-sufficient because we all depend on others. 

Summarise significance of the agreement

• RS -> Humans are naturally cooperative and this is key to driving social change. "class concioussness" requires humans to work cooperatively for a cause. This is cyclical - once you unlock class concioussness as humans are naturally working together this will continue to shape societal actions 

• SD ->  HN can be improved (capitalism should be changed) by education and social reform as humans are more inclined to behave morally and socially when institutions like schools are regulated/targeted for example government oversight in instilling frameworks such as tutor time/Ofsted/ fostering collectivism. 

• TW ->  agree that humans are social, although humans are individual and autonomous there is a natural dependancy - no one can be 'self-sufficient'

 

Agreement 2

Agreement 2: The state shapes/determines human behaviour  

Socialists agree that human behaviour is shaped by social conditions, not fixed biological traits. 

• Revolutionary Socialism  – Marx 

  • Marx argued that capitalism creates false consciousness and alienates people from their true nature. He believed that only a communist society could liberate humanity’s co-operative and communal instincts. 

• Social Democracy – Webb & Crosland 

  • Webb saw poverty and inequality as products of flawed social structures, not personal failings. Crosland believed that social policy could reshape behaviour by creating conditions that foster fairness and mutual respect. 

• The Third Way – Giddens 

  • Giddens argued that in a rapidly changing world, institutions must evolve to support socially embedded individuals, not isolated actors. He promoted social investment to help people adapt and thrive. 

What does it mean to say that something is 'socially determined'? Give an example of how social conditions shape us.

Socially determined -> People's actions and attitudes are shaped by social environment rather than fixed by biology

Social conditions shaping us -> Family having an ideological leaning, teachers, class system, friends

 

RS -> Capitalism = negative social condition that shapes human nature to be selfish and encourage negative moral incentive. Abolishing this would mean HN would more likely be shaped by positive social conditions ---> fraternity, solidarity, cooperation = common humanity

SD -> behaviour shaped by social conditions, inequality and poverty can be fixed through welfare, education, NHS and will foster better social conditions for everyone and mutual respect. Societal satisfaction. ---> ACTIVE, CONSISTENT FUNDING AND INTERVENING OF INSTITUTIONS

TW -> Humans are embedded in social networks, state needs to invest in people to thrive in these networks - training, infrastructure, education ---> EVOLVING OF INSTITUTIONS

Disag

Disagreement 1: The Extent to Which Human Nature Can Be Transformed 

Socialists differ on whether human nature is fixed, malleable, or liberated only through revolution. 

• Revolutionary Socialism  – Marx 

  • Marx believed that human nature is not fixed, but shaped by material conditions. Under capitalism, people are alienated and self-interested; under communism, they would become truly co-operative. 

    • “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness.” (Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, 1859) 

• Social Democracy – Webb & Crosland 

  • Webb believed that human nature could be gradually improved through rational planning and education. Crosland accepted that people are partly self-interested but argued that moral incentives and social reform could encourage altruism. 

• The Third Way  – Giddens 

  • Giddens was more cautious about claims to transform human nature. He emphasised empowerment and responsibility, arguing that people should be supported to make choices, not shaped by top-down control. 

 

How does each strand link back to the transformation of human nature?

RS -> HN= not fixed. HN= entireley shaped by economic conditions. Inherent nature of capitalism being competitive and HN become competitive and alienated from being cooperative, communism will be a fix/solution to get human being back to being socially cooperative

SD ->  HN is malleable by the state through gradual improvement. Focus on the state by giving incentives to the people to being socially cooperative.

TW -> HN is more fixed not an emphasis on the state playing a direct, interventionist role in tranforming human nature.

Largest outlier = Third Way. Both SD and RS acknowledge capitalism/economic inequality has impacted negative HN and the state needs to address it (in different ways). TW does not empahsise this or transforming HN, they care more about self-reliance

 

 

Disagreement 2

The Role of Co-operation vs Competition in Human Motivation 

Socialists disagree on whether co-operation alone can motivate people, or whether competition and incentives also play a role. 

• Revolutionary Socialism – Marx 

  • Marx believed that co-operation is the natural human mode of interaction, and that competition is a product of capitalist distortion. In a classless society, people would work for the common good, not personal gain. 

• Social Democracy– Crosland 

  • Crosland accepted that material incentives are necessary in a modern economy, but argued they should be balanced with moral motivations. He believed that people could be encouraged to act in the public interest through redistribution and welfare. 

• The Third Way  – Giddens 

  • Giddens argued that competition is not inherently negative, but must be socially embedded. He supported policies that promote opportunity and self-reliance, while still recognising the importance of community values. 

 

Summarise the key differences

RS -> Reject material incentives therefore reject competitions as it fosters divisions amongst the P and disrupts collective spirit amongst the proletariat - excessive competition workers will not have solidarity. Cooperation is what humans are naturally inclined to do.

SD-> Material incentives and moral incentives should be balanced, cooperation and competition should be balanced. Competition helps the economy and can motivate individuals to do more to help the economy - it is not seen as an inherent flaw in stopping cooperation. ACCEPT COMPETITION AND EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THIS ARE MITIGATED THROUGH REDISTRIBUTION OF WELFARE

TW -> Competition is not inherently negative and you can harness free market principles in order to allow for self-motivation of people. They still value community. EMBRACES COMPETITION