Assignment: Natural Differences
State of Nature
Refers to the period of time before human beings entered into
civilization. This period of time is imagined by different
philosophers to express ideas about human nature.
Rousseau Reading Circles
1. Read: Read the paragraph aloud as clearly as possible.
2.
Clarify: Working together, team members will try to clarify
words, sentences, and ideas from the section that they do not
quite understand.
3.
Answer: The group will then try to answer the
comprehension questions for the section together. Write your
answers down in your assignment.
After you are done with a section, move on to the next one.
1.) Rousseau believes that a human being is naturally
inclined to feel sympathy towards other humans, and will
be drawn to help them as long as doing so does not
endanger himself or herself. Do you agree or disagree
with this idea? Why?
2.) Rousseau thinks that society has brought out numerous
bad qualities in human beings (vanity, envy, contempt,
shame). Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Why?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Comprehension
Questions
Section 1

Does Rousseau believe that men in the state of nature lived in a violent
and chaotic world? Why or why not?

According to Rousseau, when might a “natural human” have done
something harmful to another human?
Section 2

Does Rousseau think that humans are naturally social creatures, who
want to be around other humans?

How quickly did humans make progress in their natural state? Why?
Sections 3 and 4

According to Rousseau, what monumental mistake was made that put
an end to the state of nature?

Once people started living together, what sorts of cultural activities did
they begin to engage in? How does Rousseau think that engaging in
these cultural activities negatively affected human beings?
Section 5


What is the difference between the way that the natural man wants to
live, and the way that the civilized man wants to live?
Why would the civilized man want to live in this manner? What is
Rousseau suggesting in the last line of the excerpt?
Freud Reading Circles
1. Read: Read the paragraph aloud as clearly as possible.
2.
Clarify: Working together, team members will try to clarify
words, sentences, and ideas from the section that they do not
quite understand.
3.
Answer: The group will then try to answer the
comprehension questions for the section together. Write your
answers down in your assignment.
After you are done with a section, move on to the next one.
Sigmund Freud: Comprehension Questions
Section 2

What does Freud think is stronger in human beings – our emotion or our
reason/logic?

According to Freud, what is the point of human civilization? What is it
trying to do? Has it succeeded?
Section 3

What do the communists believe about human nature? What do they
think causes aggression?

Does Freud agree with the communists? What does Freud think would
happen if we got rid of private property?
Section 4

If we are so aggressive, how does Freud suggest it possible for groups of
people to become friends?

According to Freud, how do cultural minorities help a nation come
together?
Section 5

What are the two forces that Freud thinks are struggling against each
other in the human species? Which side does he think will win?

What does the last line of the excerpt mean?
3.) Would Rousseau think that natural man would care about
getting a better grade on a test than someone else? Why
or why not?
 How might Freud and Rousseau differ in their telling of the
story of the two hungry cavemen?
Many students at Saratoga High School have a strong desire to
go to one of the best colleges in the United States.
 Do you think that this desire comes more from an inborn
drive of human nature or more from the way that these
students have been nurtured by their culture? Explain what
you think and why.