William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies. Another political philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, has the same viewpoint, believing that human beings are always motivated by self-interest.

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
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Humans are savage by nature, according to William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies. Another political philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, has the same viewpoint, believing that human beings are always motivated by self-interest. If their claims are true, then what does this mean to society?  Is it also implying that ethical goals are unreasonable and unattainable? In other words, is studying ethics a futile activity, knowing that whatever we do, we are bound to be and to do evil – human beings are wired selfish?

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