What concept relates to the idea that individuals are born with no inherent morality?

The concept that relates to the idea that individuals are born with no inherent morality is known as "tabula rasa," which translates to "blank slate." This theory, particularly associated with philosopher John Locke, posits that individuals are not born with built-in mental content or moral understandings. Instead, human beings start as a blank slate, and their experiences and environments shape their thoughts, behaviors, and moral beliefs as they grow.

This framework emphasizes the significance of nurturing, education, and social influence on the development of morality and personality. It aligns with the notion that people can learn and adapt their moral framework from the societal norms and values they encounter rather than from any pre-existing moral compass.

The other concepts do not emphasize the same notion of a neutrality at birth. Inherent goodness suggests that individuals are born with a natural inclination towards good behavior. Inherent evil posits the opposite, suggesting that individuals have an innate tendency toward evil. Social learning theory, while it acknowledges the role of environment in shaping behavior, is not fundamentally concerned with the idea of being born as a blank slate without inherent morality.