Self Deception A To Mankind - 1816 Words

Self-Deception: A Malignancy to Mankind Human nature is prone to folly; men misjudge, and are deceived by others, but also they deceive themselves. From the beginning of history it has been so, and even in the origin stories of man this key element takes a central role. In the Christian creation story Adam disobeys his god, but his motives for doing so are not elaborated upon. It is Eve who is explicitly shown being deceived. This deception is somewhat instigated by satan, but truly it is a deception of self that is the tipping point. Eve has been told that they must not eat the fruit, but despite the evidence of the wrongness of it and the consequences which will occur, she still partakes of this first sin because she allows herself to believe that it is not wrong or that there will not be repercussions. She convinces herself to believe falsely despite the reality of the situation, and antithetical evidence. I believe that Nathaniel Hawthorne would agree; throughout history men plac e a veil over their own eyes, they see what they want to see, and that this causes them to both destroy themselves, and what they love most. I believe that this theme of self-deception is prominent in Hawthorne’s short stories, particularly â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter†, and just as Giovanni ignored the signs and warnings surrounding Beatrice thereby allowing himself to be warped by the cruel and cunning Rappaccini, just as Adam and Eve deceived themselves in the Garden of Eden, all men areShow MoreRelatedDeception Can Be Used By Anyone, Human Or God964 Words   |  4 PagesIntro + thesis: Deception can be used by anyone, human or god. It is not the fact that it is being used that is an issue, since it can be used for good and evil, but rather it’s the desired goal that the deceiver hopes to accomplish through the use of deception that distinguishes well from evil. The role of deception in the lives of humans and gods serves as a mechanism to distinguish individuals who to uphold a strong moral conscious. Values of loyalty, security of their loved ones, (insert oneRead MoreThe Gothic Villain Essay942 Words   |  4 Pagesbandits. Some start out as heroes but turn into villains. The Gothic villain has several identifying characteristics. They are shifty, cunning and can mold their behavior to match the need of the circumstance. Villains will utilize intimidation, deception, and even flattery to attain their objective. So, who is the villain-hero? This villain may start out at the beginning of the story as a hero, or he may possess heroic characteristics, such as charisma, or he may have a sympathetic past, somethingRead MoreCompare and Contrast Science Fiction Short Story Unit1525 Words   |  7 Pagescharacters and scenarios, they both seem to stay true to the make believe factor. Themes like vengeance, justice, love, pride, and honor seem to appear in these short stories. For me, justification seems to also be present, one justifies on the good for mankind and the other justifies vengeance. The short story Valhalla written by Gregory Benford, opens a passage to what if. In this science fiction story we have a man that looks just like Adolf Hitler. He materialized right when Hitler sensedRead MoreResearch And Christianity : A Biblical Perspective1478 Words   |  6 Pagesbehavioral research can support one another. Specifically, the integration of research and Christianity has led me to believe that every method, type, and step to research leads one closer to the truth, truth that effectuates positive changes to mankind while encouraging a willingness, respect, and discipline to please the Lord in every pursuit. Thus, this case study will reflect on the knowledge that I have gained throughout this course as well as how this knowledge can be supported through a ChristianRead MoreWar Was A Cruel And Dark Life For A Soldier1076 Words   |  5 Pagesnot earn their trust to its fullest extent, or maybe it is because they put their trust into the wrong peop le. Either way it is a matter that should be avoided if given the chance especially if that person that we so eagerly trusted is a master of deception. The chance to have judgment over others is not something any one man should want for it is that same circumstance that leaves us unwise in our pursuit to show the uttermost form of mercy. To show someone mercy should be shown without doubt butRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By William Hawthorne879 Words   |  4 Pagesand the book is Nathaniel’s attempt at this. There is also a subtle undertone that the conflict between Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth and pearl is very much similar to the biblical conflict between god, Satan and mankind. The way god and Satan deal with one another shapes mankind as it was with pearl in the novel. There are a great many themes in the scarlet letter, one being the necessity of suffering and that molds us. Hester Prynne suffered more or so internallyRead MoreJohn Milton s Paradise Lost1528 Words   |  7 Pagestheir free will or fall from his grace by disobeying him. However, one can question the validity of God’s â€Å"free will† because God is all knowing throughout the epic. This is shown by God’s foreknowledge of Satan escaping from hell, Adam and Eve deception of eating the fruit, and his acknowledgment of what will happen in the future, due to the result of Adam and Eve’s actions. However, God’s lack of response shows his trust in the free will of his creations as the means to set forth actions. God detailsRead MoreZaphod Beeblebrox: A Modern-day Trickster1141 Words   |  5 Pagesteaches valuable life lessons and aids mankind in bettering themselves. In this Zaphod Beeblebrox is a modern-day trickster indeed. Zaphod Beeblebrox is the resident troublemaker in the science fiction series Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy created by Douglas Adams. Zaphod is introduced as a clever, imaginative, irresponsible, and untrustworthy extrovert who is so charismatic that people are able to overlook his faults. His character is a master of deception\trickery, he is a situation invertor, andRead MoreKant s Theory Of Moral Theory1466 Words   |  6 Pagesimagine a world where anyone acts as he does, and determine if there are any inherent contradictions. Kant argues that from this envisioned world, one can determine that lying could never hold as a universal law of nature ... but must necessarily be self-contradictory (Groundwork 422). In a world where everyone lies, it follows that nobody will trust this man s vague promises and he will be disregarded. Moreover, the act of lying would be without purpose in this imaginary world, since lying is makingRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1382 Words    |  6 Pagesperiod. Though confronted by the disparities of the world in figurative decay, the character’s experience treachery and corruption in search for definite answers of filial duty, individualism and mortality. Shakespeare explores his protagonist’s tragic self-awareness through the portrayal of human experiences that leads to a series of tensions between the individual and family. This demonstration leads to the understanding of moral uncertainty and metaphysical anguish that relates to our struggles as