Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics—including ways of
thinking,
feeling and
acting—which
humans tend to have
naturally, independently of the influence of
culture. The questions of what these characteristics are, how fixed they are, and what causes them are amongst the oldest and most important questions in
western philosophy. These questions have particularly important implications in
ethics,
politics, and
theology. This is partly because human nature can be regarded as both a source of
norms of conduct or ways of life, as well as presenting obstacles or constraints on living a good life. The complex implications of such questions are also dealt with in
art and
literature, while the multiple branches of the
humanities together form an important domain of inquiry into human nature and into the question of what it is to be human.