This edition presents psychological ideas as part of a greater web of thinking throughout history about the essentials of human nature, interwoven with ideas from philosophy, science, religion, art, literature and politics. The book not only explores the most significant ideas about human nature from ancient to modern times, but also examines the broader social and scientific context in which these concepts were articulated and defended. It looks at the abiding tension between humanistic and scientific perspectives, assessing the most convincing positions on each side of the debate.