In its premier state, our instinct holds on to only one principle: this innate principle of our instinct, the ‘principle of conservation of our physical well-being’, is in perfect conformity with (as well as complementary to) the principle of our conscience (the moral principle). Another principle as an integral part of human instinct is the ‘pleasure principle’, which emerges latter and, in its premier state, is also in perfect conformity with (as well as complementary to) both the ‘principle of conservation of our physical well-being’ and principle of our conscience (the moral principle).
This lets our will to alternately lend itself to the impulses of our instinct and conscience without having to sacrifice its wholesomeness which, in turn, depends upon the absence of any inner conflict of the will. Thereby, in its primal and natural state our will is, fundamentally, one and the same. At the premier state of human instinct, the will continues to be one and the same. For, in the absence of any conflict between the instinct and conscience there exists no inner conflict of the will that can, supposedly, result in the destruction of its wholesomeness. We are all born with this Natural Will.
Serious problem arises when the ‘pleasure principle’ and the premier ‘principle of conservation of physical well-being’ are no longer in conformity with and complementary to each other whereby the instinct is in conflict with itself, owing to the conflict between its two contending principles. Nevertheless, the instinct continues to maintain these two distinct and separate principles as before, – only with this change (and this is a significant change) that the instinct doesn’t have the wholesomeness (i.e. integrity) that it has been characterized by at the time when these principles have been complementary rather than conflicting.
As this process of deformity continues, human instinct is eventually and ultimately split into two distinct and separate entities, one of which (the premier principle of conservation of physical well-being) would like to perform in accordance with the supreme principle of our conscience, while the other (the pleasure principle) is ceaselessly striving against it.
As a result of this ongoing process, the heart of our instinct is, eventually, destroyed as the innate principle of our instinct – the premier ‘principle of conservation of physical well-being’ – ultimately gives in to (and, in turn, is engulfed by) the ‘pleasure principle’ as the final outcome of this process of degradation. This is what ultimately happens to the instinct of children when they persistently see people engaged in pleasurable activities that are harmful to their physical well-being: eventually, the former internalize such practices as a social norm, and are conditioned by it; and as young adults, they (in turn) get involved in pleasurable activities as such.
The will of these children is ultimately torn asunder owing to the persistent conflict between the instinct and the conscience and is no longer capable of maintaining its characteristic wholesomeness (i.e. integrity). This post-natural state of will as such is the key to all social injustices and inequality. For, when the will of the individuals, or most of the individuals, within any society lacks integrity, the very basis for social justice and equality is lost.
Is it possible to preserve and protect our good instinct so that when we seek pleasure in our lives we don’t end up compromising our physical well-being or that of others? One way to accomplish this would be providing our children with moral, ethical, and religious teaching and appropriate guidance within a peaceful, loving, caring, and, above all, a natural environment. Within such environment and under such teaching and guidance, purity and natural state of their instinct could possibly be ensured against aforementioned deformity and be protected and preserved in years to come; perhaps, through their lifetime.
The key is to bring childhood back to the natural environment with the minimum of protection, safeguard, and care, letting the nature take care of the child – most of the time, if not all the time. We need to let the children know the marvels of nature; and, thus, be entertained by the nature. In consequence, they will stay natural, their instinct will also stay natural and pure. With instinct as such, they will care for and be mindful of physical well-being of people around them, as they care for and mindful of their own physical well-being.