for example, or are they selfish and evil? Does what motivates one
person differ from another – the drive to achieve, for instance, might
be the prime motive for one person whereas perhaps the more simple
seeking of the “good life” of pleasure and comfort might drive
another. Or is there a single “master motive” which underlies all of
our strivings which we can call “human nature”?
This section provides a brief introduction to some of the areas of
philosophy needed to delve more deeply into such philosophical
assumptions. It is an interesting exercise to then examine which of
these ideas are most appealing to each reader from his or her own
perspective. And as will be seen, the ideas presented in this chapter
regarding human nature will resurface again and again throughout this
book.