Philosophical approach
Philosophical approach: “The major philosophical approaches to the question of human nature, [..] continue to inform the way in which I conceive of the human condition and how best to go beyond our limitations. The reasons for doing so were twofold: first, I sought to provide a brief sketch of these positions because they provide the context in which my own approach, which aims to provide a more accurate and synthesised picture of human nature, should be situated; and second, to set out the philosophical foundations of the conceptions of human nature in the major approaches to IR.”
“EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM” by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.49
“In addition to challenging religious notions of human nature, Darwinian Theory also called into question philosophical approaches that viewed reason as the source of morality and sociability. Darwin saw morality as a product of evolution rather than something that humankind invented at some specific point in history. Interestingly, Darwin had argued that we have a duty not only to act altruistically towards our kin, but also to gradually expand our sphere of concern to all other human beings and, eventually, to the animal kingdom.”
“EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM” by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.57
“This chapter looked at how evolutionary psychologists and sociobiologists view human nature, which indicate why we may be conceived as primarily emotionally driven rather than being motivated first and foremost by reason. Sharing the same intellectual roots as Darwin, those drawing on evolutionary theory, such as Dawkins and
Hauser, challenge the religious view of humankind which sees human beings as created in God’s image, as well as philosophical approaches that depict human nature as driven solely by egoistic passions or rationality”
“EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM” by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.64
“My focus on both conscious and unconscious, and psychosocial and physiological drivers of human behaviour provides useful insights into xenophobia and ethnocentrism. Within my neurophilosophical approach to human nature, humankind is conceived of as primarily driven by emotions, which ought to be understood as neurochemically mediated and derived largely from our genetic makeup. Human beings evolved specific emotions because they provided our ancestors with the best chance for survival.”
“EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM” by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.167
Philosophical approach Discussion
Philosophical approach: “The meaningfulness of existence is therefore highly individualistic and connected to whatever behaviour brings the most neurochemically mediated gratification. Human beings will do many things, but they will only repeat what gratifies them in some way, whether related behaviour is instinctive or pre-conditioned by social or cultural norms. This perhaps explains why some philosophical approaches to the meaning of existence conclude that what makes life meaningful is a matter for the individual to discover.”
SUSTAINABLE HISTORY AND THE DIGNITY OF MAN by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.98
“As a philosophical approach, logical positivism seeks to clarify the meaning of propositions and to discard
meaningless propositions. These meaningless propositions were classified as metaphysical. In general, logical positivists believe that metaphysical knowledge of the universe cannot be proved by logic. They therefore rejected knowledge claims derived from metaphysics.”
Key Paragraphs
Geostrategy, Geopolitics, Human Nature, International Relations, Conflict Theory, International Security, Global Security, National Security, Altruism, Globalization, Global Justice, Political Justice, Political Theory, Philosophical approach, Social Theory, Neurophilosophy, Philosophy of History, Diplomacy, Existentialism, History of Ideas, Statecraft, Theory of Knowledge, Political Philosophy, Human Civilization, Dignity, Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Innate Knowledge, Philosophical Approach, Multilateralism, Neorealism, Transcultural, National Security