What does it mean to be human?

[kot91]

So I'm writing a paper with the topic the same as the title and it got me wondering; I have my own set of opinions as to what it means to be human (a wide range from spiritually, emotionally, and philosophically) and I was wondering if BG could have a comprehensive conversation on the topic.

I found this exercise on a philosophy board where the OP asked the same question and compiled all the answers into one post. Could be interesting.

Just an addition; the question does not include anything along the lines of what makes us human in a physical sense (bipedal, opposable thumbs, etc).

[Slapper]

Are we human?

Spoiler: show

or are we dancers?

[Cream Soda]

hmm, well what distinguishes humans from blacks is that humans are able to use common sense, have morals, and able to make coherent decisions to better their life.

[isladar]

So you want a list of nebulous, abstract reasons why we're human and not the biological reasons of why and how we're even capable of asking those kind of questions. I find the latter to be far more compelling than the former, but that's just me.


inb4 miserable pile of secrets

[Uzor]

42

Spoiler: show

Exactly what is it you want to know? What makes us different from animals, or what?

In my opinion, what it means to be human is different from why we are humans or why we're different.

If you want the answer to be what it means to be human is that we - unlike other animals - are responsible for our own actions because we're (albeit arguably) smarter than other animals and are capable of reason. As such, we need to take responsibility for our own actions.

Emotions have no place in what it means to be human, as it's not a unique human attribute. Other animals have emotions too, so emotions isn't what humanity is about. Spirituality, on the other hand, is something uniquely human and - I believe - stems from our curiosity and desire to understand the world around us. I also believe we're the only species capable of reason and logical thinking, which leads to philosophy. So those two are certainly uniquely human traits; unlike emotions which is really only a chemical response in our brain.

I think the strongest argument you can bring to the table about humanity is that we're possibly the only species able to ask that question.

[Not Kuno]

All that came to mind was:

http://img.memecenter.com/uploaded/1...28cad39751.jpg

[Hyan]

It means to be above everything else in existence.

But enough talk. Have at you!

[kot91]

The idea is to from thought provoking ideas, not to distinguish the difference between us and everything else.

For example, I could say we are potato.

well what makes us potato? Why? How do we feel as potato?

[guartz]

protip: google + empiricism = profit

[Dimmauk]

Do other mammals believe in imaginary higher powers?

[kot91]

protip: google + empiricism = profit

Upvote. Sweet jesus.

[Gredival]

In the shortest possible terms, an intelligent sentient being. Being human in the sense you are asking pretty much is a question of "personhood."

Case in point, Spock might not be human, but we would still consider it wrong to kill him despite him not being strictly human because he's a person. We'd also probably consider sentient intelligent AIs with fully developed personalities and the ability to grow/learn/feel to be persons as well. (See Danger from the Whedon X-Men run).

There's a decent Nussbaum paper that discusses this in length.

[Not Kuno]

Spock might not be human, but we would still consider it wrong to kill him despite him not being strictly human.

Fun fact: Spock is not real.

[Bregor]

inb4 miserable pile of secrets

Goddamnit.

[Gredival]

Fun fact: Spock is not real.

Not the point? It's a hypothetical meant to illustrate what we implicitly believe about "being human" by examining an extraordinary circumstance.

[Gwynplaine]

The ability to use our consciousness to form abstracted universal concepts, which wild animals can't. Which means the ability to use concepts to think and understand the world. Where in contrast animals just react to whatever happens immediately around them. It's the difference between a person saying "circle" knowing that it represents the abstract of any circular shape anywhere at any time. Versus a parrot mimicking a noise that sounds like "circle" just to make a noise.

I guess you might say this is a physical trait, and it is but it's also an indispensable philosophic one you can't do without.

[Uzor]

The ability to use our consciousness to form abstracted universal concepts, which wild animals can't. Which means the ability to use concepts to think and understand the world. Where in contrast animals just react to whatever happens immediately around them. It's the difference between a person saying "circle" knowing that it represents the abstract of any circular shape anywhere at any time. Versus a parrot mimicking a noise that sounds like "circle" just to make a noise.

I guess you might say this is a physical trait, and it is but it's also an indispensable philosophic one you can't do without.

This is actually not true; it is possible to teach a parrot what a square, circle, key and car is. It is also possible to teach it the difference between colors. It is also possible to teach it to count and recite how many of a particular object it sees. Monkeys have this ability, too. Various other animals likely also possess this ability; but monkeys and parrots are the only ones able to communicate with us at a level high enough to show it and answer questions. Humans are certainly better at it than monkeys and parrots - but it isn't a trait that's unique to humans.

I also don't believe it is a trait that can describe humanity, unless you'd like to consider newborn babies to not be humans, as they don't possess this trait. So if you want to get to the core of what it means to be human, you'd have to go back to humanity's core and find something that all humans on earth have in common. And on top of that, you'd have to find something that all humans on earth have in common that other animals do not.

To make it short; I think it is almost impossible to find a non-physical trait that all humans have in common that we do not share with any other form of life on earth.

[Eurell]

http://www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/p.../Pics/vivi.jpg

[Plow]

It's not possible to teach them what a chainsaw is and what it's doing off in the distance, but some can still mimic it.

Or Seinfeld.

[crazyrabbit]

To be a human means nothing, only what you do as a human can have meaning.
We can pretend to be special and above all else, but in reality we are just a short lived anomaly for nature and of zero importance to the universe.