Why We Should Be More Optimistic About Human Nature

Why We Should Be More Optimistic About Human Nature
Looking at the world with good expectations of people isn't naive, it's rational and realistic. Yuricazac/Shutterstock
Updated:
In the novel “Lord of the Flies,” a group of young boys are shipwrecked on an island and eventually turn savagely against each other. The book is a cautionary tale about humanity’s underlying cruelty and the need for civilization to tame our darker impulses—a message that resonates with many people today.
But that’s not what happened to a real-life group of shipwrecked kids in 1965. Unlike the fictional “Lord of the Flies” characters, they developed a game plan for survival that was cooperative, fun, and peaceful, resulting in lifelong friendships.
Jill Suttie
Jill Suttie
Author
Jill Suttie, Psy.D., is Greater Good’s former book review editor and now serves as a staff writer and contributing editor for the magazine. This article was republished from the Greater Good online magazine.
Related Topics