nature vs. nurture

[Aeroblast]

nature vs. nurture is popular debate topic as of today.

to summarize what nature vs. nurture is from wikipedia:

The phrase nature and nurture relates to the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities ("nature" in the sense of nativism or innatism) as compared to an individual's personal experiences ("nurture" in the sense of empiricism or behaviorism) in causing individual differences, especially in behavioral traits. The alliterative expression "nature and nurture" in English has been in use since at least the Elizabethan period[1] and goes back to medieval French.[2] The combination of the two concepts as complementary is ancient (Greek: ἁπό φύσεως καὶ εὐτροφίας[3]).

so which side are you on? nature (genes)? or nurture (environment)? if you think both affect a person, state which quality you think has a bigger influence.

 

[Livewire]

Think of nature or genetic predisposition like scaffolding, and nurture like the bricks and mortar. Nature & genes and predispose and maybe set you up for a certain path, behaviorally, psychologically, physically, etc., but nurture can re-inforce or weaken those predispositions. People aren't born racist, or bigoted, or hateful, those are acquired traits that are learned. If anything, I think nurture can be a strong enough environmental force that can supersede nature and/or genetic predisposition in the right circumstances.

 

[Kanzler]

Much of what makes society tick is "nurtured", that is, stuff that you cannot pick up simply from the virtue of being human. I too would say the environment has a greater effect than genes. Even in the realm of exercise, I'd say that being athletic and eating healthy is more of a habits issue than an innate predisposition. Not everybody can be genetically predisposed to have the potential aesthetics of a natural bodybuilder or the potential stamina of a competitive marathon runner, but the vast majority of people could be fit, fence, or perhaps even run a marathon if they tried hard enough.

 

[Somewhere_]

The factors really depend on the culture and society at the time. When humans were first around, I would argue it was nature more than nurture because of our natural instinct to survive and reproduce. However, as the human race developed and became for sophisticated with culture and technology, I believe nurture is the more powerful force. We become what society and those around us want us to become (to a certain extent). We no longer focus on immediate survival, where nature is more important, so we care more about a future and living longer and developing technology for the next generation.