Essential Character Traits of Humans

I opine, after years to study and thought, that the two basic elements that make humans human are curiosity and war.

Well? Am I right, or am I right. Now, I am saying that there are two and only two....curiosity and war!

 

Greed and jealousy are far more prevalent.

 

Maybe its just another way to view ones need to avoid pain or gain pleasure. The carrot and the stick.

 

And they lead to war!

 

What?

 

War is not character trait.

 

What separates humans from the rest of the vertebrate animals is intelligence and opposable thumbs. These are traits that allowed humans to dominate the planet.

 

i think you are wrong. our humanity evolved in the garden of eden with the discovery (damn that apple tree!) if a 4 letter word.

The Game Of Love - YouTube.....

 

The two basic elements of human behavior is the need to gain pleasure and avoid pain. Often referred to as the carrot and the stick. Both curiosity and war are only examples that fit into one of the two.

 

maybe you should have used 'anger' instead of 'war'. 61falcon is correct, war is not a characteristic.

How about anger and jealousy instead?

 

I don't think your two basic elements satisfy your OP heading.

Essential Character Traits of Humans

Which to my thinking is in itself obtuse. Essential Character Traits of QUALITY Humans:

Honesty - If you don't start from honesty you have no where to go.

I think honesty is the corner stone of human character all other essentials are really just rewording of Honesty:

Integrity
Dependable
Trustworthy
Loyal
Respectful
Responsible
Fairness
Authenticity

Even other traits that can be viewed as independent of honesty build on it:

Courageous
Kind
Forgiving
Perseverance
Generosity
Self-discipline
Ambition

Even curiousity.

War is the scourge of mankind and is the antithesis of Quality Humanity. So, are you right? NO.

 

My 2 cents, I think 'honesty' is a learned characteristic.

 

If it's a trait, it's in the genes.
If it were true, then every person would fight with every other person. And there'd be no one getting along.

A war is over resources or religion throughout most of history. Not because we have a war gene.

 

Lead to, meaning not a trait.

 

I think it's nurture and nature; both equally important.

 

That's exactly what I mean. War is a trait.

 

LOL, no. There's no need for other things to "lead to" war. If it was a trait, we'd do it out of a natural act.
AFAIK, traits are not actions. They are things that make us who we are. We don't go around warring with every person we meet.

 

I still say "war" and "curiosity" are the two basic traits of humans....not the only ones.

There are wars started for reasons other than hate. I use "war" and that covers all forms of harm done to other humans.

Name a culture that has no curiosity and/or "war".

Thank you

 

You think human beings are honest? I don't mean to be mean but have you ever met any humans?

I'm looking forward to your reasoning on that one.

 

And the same can be said of most primates too, so it's not unique to humans.

 

Are you saying that all creatures, big and small, have the traite to want to harm others of their kind just for the "fun" of it?

 

Reread my post. I said primates.

 

I don't think anyone's perfect, but basic honesty is surely an attribute that should be a lifetime GOAL. Yes I have met people, actual humans, who would never lie for something significant.

 

Yes, I'm one of them.

However, it appears that most people are totally cool with lying and/or being lied to. That's where I got stuck in your response. This response indicates that honesty is something that people should strive to achieve but I read the post I responded to that people are inherently honest. It is to the latter that I disagree.

 

I figure the two things are creativity and willpower. Curiosity is very closely linked to creativity. War is ultimately a result of conflicting wills.