Are people inherently evil?

[Locknuts]

There are universally preferable behaviours. They can be seen as those behaviours which lead to an objectively measurable increase in the standard of living within a population.

Things like rape, assault, murder and theft (Aristotle's big 4) are always evil. As Aristotle said: you can define your own ethics, but if your system of ethics finds any of the big 4 good, then you have gone astray in your reasoning.

All four come down to a violation of property rights. Your body is your property, as are the fruits of the labour of your body.

I think almost everybody is born with the capability to violate such property rights, but also the ability to understand them. I think there is a correlation between low IQ and criminal behaviour (even when you factor in the fact that the really smart criminals rarely get caught), which explains to some extent why we see so much more evil behaviour in certain parts of the world than others.

Most european and east asian populations now possess the traits that ensure people are less likely to become criminals (high IQs, lower aggression levels etc.), so in these populations it's most likely environmental factors and ideologies that would cause significant numbers of the population to become evil.

Intelligent people can be taught ideas that justify blatant violations of property rights, such as the OP's chosen ideology: socialism.

So I guess my answer is...no. Most people aren't inherently evil. People just sometimes give into their base urges (because they can't see the consequences at the time) or are misguided.