Final answer:
The debate between humans being born evil or shaped by society features various perspectives, including conservative views of innate depravity countered by beliefs that evil arises from free will, human error, and societal influence. Additionally, conceptual frameworks like theodicy suggest that evil has a role in soul development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether humans are innately evil or shaped by society has been debated for centuries. On the one hand, figures like Joseph de Maistre from the conservative sphere argued that humans are inherently evil, needing the structure of strong institutions, like monarchy and church, to prevent their depraved natures from manifesting. This view aligns with the Judeo-Christian concept of original sin. On the other hand, philosophers and theologians suggest that evil results from human error and free will, which implies that society and environment play significant roles in influencing man's moral choices. Additionally, some perspectives, such as the analogy of viewing an oil painting from a distance, suggest that what we consider evil may simply be part of a larger, divine creation that we cannot fully understand from our limited human perspective.
There's also the argument that humans do not pursue evil knowingly and mistakes are often the result of misconceptions rather than inherent evil. This idea posits that with education and understanding, individuals can learn to distinguish good from evil. In the grand scheme of things, the concept of theodicy proposes that evil may serve a purpose in soul-building or the development of virtue, therefore having a place within a larger framework of good therefore at least philosophically evil may not be as inherent as it seems.