Abstract

Every political theory contains a conception of human nature. Such a conception can become the source of significant and unrecognized normative constraints. The importance of these claims is heightened by the fact that the meaningfulness and utility of the concept of human nature has been frequently denied. This work first attempts to defend the concept of human nature against the charge of meaninglessness. It then attempts to defend against the preemption of the concept by the sciences, especially sociobiology. The utility of the concept of human nature is pursued by examining the role of conceptions of human nature in particular political theories. ;Two case studies are provided to illustrate both the presence of conceptions of human nature in diverse political theories and the usefulness of examining such conceptions in political theories. C. B. Macpherson's philosophical anthropology is found to contain two different conceptions of human nature. Because the relationship between these conceptions is unclear and because these conceptions figure significantly in his political theory, the status of his political theory is called into question. John Rawls, on the other hand, has denied that he has a conception of human nature. It is argued that both his conception of citizens as persons and his view that citizenship is legitimately separable from the rest of moral personality does constitute a conception of human nature. His political theory is called into question insofar as it relies upon an overlapping consensus on human nature--a consensus which may well not exist. ;Finally, a sketch is offered of further work to be undertaken along the lines of this dissertation. An example is offered involving the concept of freedom, which has often come to be considered freedom from polity as opposed to freedom to participate in polity. A conception of human nature might help us to decide which of these two conceptions of freedom is more appropriately pursued, or it might lead us to appreciate some other understanding of political freedom.