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Eye Theory Of Boolean Human Nature

Posted on:2013-08-29Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Z Y ZhangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2245330374477632Subject:Religious Studies
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Reinhold Niebuhr was a famous Christian thinker and Christianpolitician who lived in20th century. He was the representative ofChristian Realism. His thought of human nature stoped thepredomination of optimism in America and had a big influence onAmerican society.I think the start point of his thought of human nature is freedom. Thisthesis divides his thought of human nature into two perspectives. The firstperspective is that from freedom to sin, the second perspective is thatfreedom makes love possible.Niebuhr is a thinker who cares social problems very much. Histhought has two features: realistic and paradoxical. He puts forward histhought of human nature in order to criticize optimism. In the firstperspective of Niebuhrs thought of human nature-from freedom to sin,he thinks that humans are both finite and free, and humans are alluredby the devil, and misuse the freedom, then fall into sin. He thinks themanifestations of sin have two forms: the sin of pride and the sin ofsensuality, the sin of pride is the basic sin. In his thought of grace, whichis the stretch of his thought of sin, he thinks humans are sinners forever. Inthe second perspective of Niebuhrs thought of human nature-freedommakes love possible, he thinks that humans still have freedom after thefall, and love is the requirement of freedom. Humans ought to love.Love requires humility and tolerance. However, he thinks that humansbehavior cannot conform to the requirement of love completelybecause of sin, and love cannot be achieved in real life, and love is animpossible possibility. Niebuhr inherits the perspective that from freedomto sin from Kierkegaard, and develops Kierkegaards thought of humannature.In Niebuhrs thought of human nature, sin and love are both developed from freedom. The two perspectives have a dialecticrelation. After understanding the two perspectives, we can understandwhy Niebuhr is neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic on humannature better.
Keywords/Search Tags:Reinhold Niebuhr, thought of human nature, freedom, sin, love, Kierkegaard
PDF Full Text Request
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