Ojeda
Jessie Ojeda
Budden
A.P. Language and Composition
11 January 2012
Conquering Nature
"The phrase 'nature and nurture' is a convenient jingle of words, for it separates under two distinct heads the innumerable elements of which personality is composed." (Galton). The debate between the roles of nature versus nurture has lasted for centuries and will likely continue to last for many more. In this day and age, people are now able to understand some of the most complex structures of the human brain and body. However, the contest of personality inheritance still remains as of yet, an unsolved mystery. Scientists and regular citizens alike study the affects of ones environment versus ones hereditary, weighing their affect on the development of human personality, skills and talents. Research supports both theories, with proponents of environment, also known as “empiricists”, arguing that it is the events and surroundings of our life that create who we are, while hereditary supporters, otherwise known as “nativists” insist that all our traits come from the genes we inherit from our family. Both theories are well supported, and while one may choose to argue for one or the other, I believe that it is possible for both “nature” and “nurture” to play key roles in human development.
