debate over man being inherently good or evil

The debate over man being inherently good or evil is a debate which has raged since the beginning of time. Rousseau and William Golding do not shy away from taking a stance on the subject. But while Rousseau believes "nothing can be more gentle than man in his primitive state," Golding's believes quite the opposite. In his novel, The Lord of the Flies, Golding attempts to prove his hypothesis by showing the behavior of a …

…of his former life could not resist occasionally being caught up in the orgies of violence because, as Golding states, the urge for chaos is a part of human nature. Golding and Rousseau differ on their viewpoints on the natural inclination of man. Golding's novel demonstrates his idea that man in his primitive form is a violent savage. Through the actions of all the boys, Golding clearly shows his belief in man's inclination towards evil.