This essay was penned by the Dalai Lama in response to conversations with Western scientists, philosophers, and psychologists and others during a conference in 1995. He argues that without coming to some sort of agreement about human nature, regardless of its form, it will be impossible to establish universal ethics. Drawing upon his own observations and recent discoveries in science showing the importance of a mother's care during early development, he proposes that human nature is fundamentally gentle and compassionate. He also discusses some of the logical and ethical problems inherent in formulating a model of human nature.