What explains character?

[Nehru]

I am not talking about behavior but character. For instance, the behavior of a thief can be explained by his material condition. You might even sympathize with him. But character is a different story - blaming the environment doesn't cut it.

Or, if I may put it this way, behavior can be justified as a reaction to the environment. But bad character has no such justification.

[Geiseric]

What's the difference? If your football coach yelled at you enough? actually, i think i understand what you say, however bad character usually comes from innatentive parents.

[#FF0000]

what do you mean by character, tho, and what's so magical about it that material conditions and life experiences can't affect it

[Ele'ill]

I don't understand this.

[ColonelCossack]

Isn't someone's perceived character (perceived by other people that is), determined wholly by their behaviour?

[Judicator]

Environment and genetics, as with any other human behavior.

Also, not all poor people are thieves, and not all thieves are poor, so low material condition is neither necessary nor sufficient to explain theft.

[ColonelCossack]

Environment and genetics, as with any other human behavior.

Also, not all poor people are thieves, and not all thieves are poor, so low material condition is neither necessary nor sufficient to explain theft.

But if you see someone, what is it that shows you their character? It's what they do.

[Judicator]

But if you see someone, what is it that shows you their character? It's what they do.

Right, that's how you observe their character. That's a separate question from how they come to have such a character in the first place.

[ColonelCossack]

Right, that's how you observe their character. That's a separate question from how they come to have such a character in the first place.

But isn't someone's behaviour the only way they can assert their character? So any aspects of character not shown by behaviour are irrelevant.

[Judicator]

But isn't someone's behaviour the only way they can assert their character? So any aspects of character not shown by behaviour are irrelevant.

The OP's question was about what causes character NOT how character is manifest (which will largely be behavior).

[ColonelCossack]

The OP's question was about what causes character NOT how character is manifest (which will largely be behavior).

Fair do's.

I still think it doesn't really matter unless it's gonna negatively affect other people... but it's still a valid question, I suppose.