Ten theories of human nature

What is our place in the universe? Why are we here? Ten Theories of Human Nature, Fifth Edition, is an introduction to some of the most influential developments in Western and Eastern thought that attempt to answer these and other existential questions. The book compresses into a small space the essence of such ancient traditions as Confucianism, Hinduism, and the Old and New Testaments, as well as the theories of Plato, Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, and Jean-Paul Sartre, and it does so in a way that helps readers understand how humanity has struggled to comprehend its nature. To underscore the similarities and differences among the many theories, the authors examine each on four points - the nature of the universe, the nature of humanity, the diagnoses of the ills of humanity, and the proposed cure for these problems. Not endorsing any one theory, they include critical discussion throughout to encourage readers to think for themselves, along with suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter.