Final answer:
Evidence for the claim that factions' causes lie in human nature includes diverse opinions on important societal topics, power struggles, economic differences, and historical observations. Competing interests inherent to society create factions, which are further exacerbated by human nature and environmental influences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evidence for the claim that the latent causes of factions are in the nature of man includes a variety of social and economic factors such as diverse opinions on religion and government, the desire for power, different economic interests, and the unequal distribution of property. Historical observations, as witnessed by James Madison in the Federalist Papers, suggest that these causes are embedded in human nature and the fabric of society. For example, Madison noted that people are prone to forming factions based on economic statuses like creditors and debtors or landowners and non-landowners. Such divisions result in competing interests that challenge governance and foster factionalism.
In addition, the writings of conservative thinkers like Joseph de Maistre acknowledge the imperfections of human nature, arguing that without strong institutional checks, human beings are likely to succumb to their base instincts. These perspectives are supported by the idea that human behavior is shaped heavily by the environment and past experiences, and that moral principles don't naturally arise from human or biological nature. This view is contrasted with the belief in a natural moral order, which some believe to be divinely inspired, although this has been challenged by evolutionary theory and its suggestion that moral behavior is influenced more by survival than inherent goodness.