innate goodness
Born with kindness
Innate goodness is the belief that humans are born with a natural tendency toward virtue, kindness, or moral behavior—that goodness is built into human nature rather than learned or imposed.
The concept appears in philosophy and theology, often contrasted with doctrines of original sin or the view that morality must be taught: Rousseau believed in innate goodness corrupted by society.
- purityUncontaminated quality
- pure heartMorally unblemished intentions
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- goodnessMoral excellence
kindness · compassion · soul · heart · inner light · nature · true self · born · inherent · uncorrupted · wholesome · gentle · tender · moral · moral compass · conscience · benevolence · altruism
- ConfucianismConfucius, Analects, Mencius, Four Books, benevolence
- Rousseausocial contract, Emile, Confessions, noble savage, natural state
- naturalistic educationlearning by doing, hands-on learning, discovery learning, progressive education, student-centered
innate goodnessoriginal sin
Inherited spiritual corruption
total depravity · born in sin · state of nature · noble savage
innate goodnessblank slate
Unmarked starting point
tabula rasa · moral education · environmental influence · moral development