Navigating Our Better Angels

Human nature is marked by underlying instincts to protect oneself, sustain family, and eliminate threats, reflecting a Hobbesian view of the state of nature. The challenge arises when these instincts clash with the moral imperatives shaped by thinkers like Locke and Calvin, emphasizing our inherent sinfulness and fallibility. This understanding is foundational to American governance, as demonstrated by the complexity embedded in the U.S. Constitution, which was designed with the belief that many desires are inherently misguided. Thus, recognizing our better angels requires continual awareness and restraint against our primal instincts.