Human nature is a concept without a single definition, yet it plays a crucial role in reproducing power relations and serves as the foundation for moral, ethical, and political stances. Fixed definitions are often too reductionistic to capture this complex phenomenon. In my master's thesis, I propose an alternative, pluralistic theory of human nature, inclusive of various paradigms, each offering unique insights. I employ an anarchist method, grounded in a critical realist ontological position and a social constructivist epistemology. I liken humans to a device that processes outputs based on the "hardware and software" of human nature. This theory views human nature as a dual process: first, the formation of opinions based on social and material inputs, and second, the capacity for reflexive evaluation. This process is cyclical and inherently ambiguous. I apply this process-based perspective to examine how power relations are reproduced and hegemonic practices are sustained, focusing particularly on the educational process and institutions. Through this lens, I argue that academic processes exploit the hardware and software dimensions of human nature, ensuring the maintenance of hegemony and the cultural status quo. My theory suggests that educational institutions, through their structures and practices, are designed to exploit human nature as a process, thereby reinforcing power dynamics and preserving existing social orders.
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