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The chapter argues that vulnerability should be recognized as a part of human nature. The debate about human nature has recently returned to the forefront of philosophical inquiry. Some authors outright deny the existence of human nature. Others reduce it to a pure animal condition. Still others—trans and post-humanists—advocate radical artificial intervention in human beings. In this chapter I seek to sketch the contours of this debate. In addition, I will defend the following positions: (i) There is indeed a human nature. (ii) It includes our animal condition, this is what makes us vulnerable; so, vulnerability is part of human nature. (iii) However, human nature is much more than simple animality; we are also social beings and rational by nature, endowed with self-awareness and some degree of freedom. Hence, we can mitigate our vulnerability thanks to our social interdependence and our condition as a rational being. In sum, regarding human vulnerability, I will argue for the following formula: recognition + mitigation. Vulnerability should be recognized as part of human nature and mitigated by improving the integration between the animal, social and rational aspects of human nature. I will reject, therefore, the two other alternative positions: conformity with or resignation to extreme vulnerability, on the one hand, and the attempt to overcome vulnerability by overcoming human nature itself, on the other.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-32693-1_2

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