Jump to content
Join the Unexplained Mysteries community today! It's free and setting up an account only takes a moment.
- Sign In or Create Account -

What is it to be human?


Professor T

Recommended Posts

We can all basically agree that we are human biological beings, but from there on in we can't agree on definitions of the human condition or basically what it is to be us.. One would assume that we should all agree on a definition relitively quickly, given that we are humans..

So, pretty simple really, in one paragraph or less, define what it is to be a human in the Philosophical, Psycological or Spiritual sense of the word. What aspects define what we are.. What's at the core of our being... What is it to be human?

Edited by Professor T
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that a definition of what it is to be human is to Imagine, Invent and Inspire.. These three aspects are things that imo seem to place humans apart from other known creatures in the animal kingdom, and from those three you can trace back most non-ego driven agendas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The simple fact that we can even pose such a question distinguishes us from all other species on the planet. To be human is, I suppose, to be the successful result of billions of years of evolution and we'r really just lucky that genetics took this turn into giving us superior intellect over other animals.

Edited by Sean93
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The traditional view is that man is a rational being, one that can reason. I think that's pretty non-contentious, but as they say in philosophy, the devil is in the details. Right away this excludes infants, the senile and mentally challenged.

More generally, this definition would include archaic hominids and possibly chimpanzees, dolphins, crows, elephants and other species that exhibit rational cognition.

So perhaps a better criteria, one that other UM readers have posited (Mr Walker I believe) is that man is a symbolic animal. He deals in symbols, totally abstract thought, and second order thinking (thinking about thinking). That would eliminate non hominids from the list.

But again, this would exclude those biological humans incapable of such thought. Does that make them sub-human (untermenschen)? Slippery slope incoming ....

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The philosophical, Psychological, and Spiritual aspects of what it means to be human are all connected. The spiritual perspecptive affects the philosophical and psychological view.

Spiritually, to be human is to have another unique expression of consciousness. Birds are seeing from their eyes with their own views depending on their experiences, biology, and environment. Starfish are perceiving the world from their point of view, without eyes, ears, nose, or a mouth, but with just sensation of the body. There are many different expressions of consciousness and humans happen to be another unique one.

Philosophically, the human condition is that of suffering, more so than other creatures. The reason why is because humans have words (sounds which were taken to have meaning) and this can keep a person living in the past whereas an animal, would be thinking about the past less and more in pictures thinking of NOW for survival and potential future threats but without longing or repetition since they do not have words which keeps them locked in abstract thinking.

Psychologically, the human mind can question things, whereas an animal can only be led with curiousity. For animals, the questioning happens in the moment, but the human can randomly sit down and contemplate and abstract idea.

Or at least, this seems to be my observation.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well that's weird?

so far 6 members have responded and all 6 responses have been different?

Perhaps I should have clarified that only Humans should be answering the question.. :whistle:

:P

davincihumanhell.jpg

Edited by Professor T
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The simple fact that we can even pose such a question distinguishes us from all other species on the planet. To be human is, I suppose, to be the successful result of billions of years of evolution and we'r really just lucky that genetics took this turn into giving us superior intellect over other animals.

How does evolution go about enabling us to pose such questions?

I would like to leave it at that but I feel compelled to stipulate that I am not a creationist and I am not making a creationist point here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Perhaps I should have clarified that only Humans should be answering the question.. :whistle:

My cats have a clear-cut view of what its like to be human. You get up at the same time each day for the purpose of filling their water and food bowls. You are also good for ear-scratching, but only when it is desired.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My cats have a clear-cut view of what its like to be human. You get up at the same time each day for the purpose of filling their water and food bowls. You are also good for ear-scratching, but only when it is desired.

Ahh, but I want to know what humans think being human is all about..

I might consider getting cat's perspective at some other time, but maybe not their Philosophical view.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Consciousness and intelligence beyond the animal level. Man was first set apart from the other creatures because he spoke and had the ability to write and perceive abstract symbols... experiences and history could integrate into the future generations a knowledge learned without a personal experience. No other animal has that yet.

In one old interpretation in the books of Enoch it had different nations of man symbolized by animals. Said Noah was born an Ox but became a Man. I found it interesting that not all humans become a man. I think it means Illumination. Men can acquire it but most humans don't.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

An organism that possesses the human genome.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Philosophically, the human condition is that of suffering, more so than other creatures. The reason why is because humans have words (sounds which were taken to have meaning) and this can keep a person living in the past whereas an animal, would be thinking about the past less and more in pictures thinking of NOW for survival and potential future threats but without longing or repetition since they do not have words which keep them locked in abstract thinking.

I'd just like to make a comment on the parts of your post I've made BOLD. About four years ago, a pair of seagulls that I fed every day, decided to build a nest on my neighbours roof. They chose a spot that was between the chimney and the upward slope of the roof, a spot that would protect their offspring from the strongest heat of the sun and the winds from the north. When they had just completed the nest my neighbour decided she didn't want it there and got someone to climb up and pull it down. Needless to say, the birds were very distressed about this and attacked the man, and tried to prevent the destruction. They never tried to rebuild in the same spot, but each Spring when nest-building time comes around, they appear on the highest point of the roof and then make their way down to the site of the original nest. Then they make a lot of noise and flap their wings vigorously ..... they are definitely 'talking' to each other....... then they fly off. They do this several times a day for about a week/ten days. I believe they are reminding each other of what happened and are still distressed by the event. They knew they had found a perfect spot for their nest, but they remember that it is no longer safe.

Consciousness and intelligence beyond the animal level. Man was first set apart from the other creatures because he spoke and had the ability to write and perceive abstract symbols... experiences and history could integrate into the future generations a knowledge learned without a personal experience. No other animal has that yet.

In one old interpretation in the books of Enoch it had different nations of man symbolized by animals. Said Noah was born an Ox but became a Man. I found it interesting that not all humans become a man. I think it means Illumination. Men can acquire it but most humans don't.

Regarding the part I've made BOLD: Many species of animals would not survive if they didn't have a way of communicating with each other, to enhance simply copying each other's actions. Birds and animals have a much more detailed vocabulary than most people realise! They're not just making a panicky sound to warn others to flee, etc.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd just like to make a comment on the parts of your post I've made BOLD. About four years ago, a pair of seagulls that I fed every day, decided to build a nest on my neighbours roof. They chose a spot that was between the chimney and the upward slope of the roof, a spot that would protect their offspring from the strongest heat of the sun and the winds from the north. When they had just completed the nest my neighbour decided she didn't want it there and got someone to climb up and pull it down. Needless to say, the birds were very distressed about this and attacked the man, and tried to prevent the destruction. They never tried to rebuild in the same spot, but each Spring when nest-building time comes around, they appear on the highest point of the roof and then make their way down to the site of the original nest. Then they make a lot of noise and flap their wings vigorously ..... they are definitely 'talking' to each other....... then they fly off. They do this several times a day for about a week/ten days. I believe they are reminding each other of what happened and are still distressed by the event. They knew they had found a perfect spot for their nest, but they remember that it is no longer safe.

Regarding the part I've made BOLD: Many species of animals would not survive if they didn't have a way of communicating with each other, to enhance simply copying each other's actions. Birds and animals have a much more detailed vocabulary than most people realise! They're not just making a panicky sound to warn others to flee, etc.

I said "Man was first set apart from the other creatures because he spoke and had the ability to write and perceive abstract symbols... experiences and history could integrate into the future generations a knowledge learned without a personal experience. No other animal has that yet."

I agree animals communicate and have memories that's why I was careful to add the "yet" to the ability to read and write, abstract thought through symbols :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many species of animals would not survive if they didn't have a way of communicating with each other, to enhance simply copying each other's actions. Birds and animals have a much more detailed vocabulary than most people realise! They're not just making a panicky sound to warn others to flee, etc.

Yes, other species also have cultures that are passed on to generations, chimps are one of them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An organism that possesses the human genome.

So if a person is missing a chromosome (Downs syndrome) they're not human?

Anyways, the OP asked "what it is to be a human in the Philosophical, Psycological or Spiritual sense of the word"

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if a person is missing a chromosome (Downs syndrome) they're not human?

Downs syndrome is actually caused by extra chromosomes.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145554.php

Anyways, the OP asked "what it is to be a human in the Philosophical, Psycological or Spiritual sense of the word"

And I answered according to naturalism (philosophy).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well that's weird?

so far 6 members have responded and all 6 responses have been different?

Perhaps I should have clarified that only Humans should be answering the question.. :whistle:

:P

davincihumanhell.jpg

when i was younger i always wondered why that guy had 4 legs and 4 arms.
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good question. Id have to think on it for a few years and get back to you. So far I only seem to run into inhumane things in life. The humanity I do run into seems burned into oppression.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

when i was younger i always wondered why that guy had 4 legs and 4 arms.

I guess he was an octoped.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think, in spite of the fact that we see signs of culture in some animals, that human beings have culture in ways that are absent elsewhere. In particular, if you cross a national boundary, all of a sudden (in many cases -- there are of course more artificial boundaries) everything changes. The language, the architecture, the way farm plots are set out, even the side of the street people drive on. This has diminished over the last century as the world's culture has been becoming more homogeneous, but it is still noticeable.

One of the fun things to try is to check a given culture and see whether, when there is a spot on someone's face, the person telling the spotted one about it points to the actual side of the face its on or to the mirror image side. I have found it varies fairly systematically from culture to culture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Downs syndrome is actually caused by extra chromosomes.

http://www.medicalne...cles/145554.php

And I answered according to naturalism (philosophy).

You're equivocating now. Natural philosophy is an archaic term for what we would call science. No one uses that term instead of science in casual conversation.

The OP is not interested in biology for arguments sake, just Philosophical, Psychological or Spiritual.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're equivocating now. Natural philosophy is an archaic term for what we would call science. No one uses that term instead of science in casual conversation.

Please get your facts straight before picking and choosing what is valid philosophy.

http://www.naturalism.org/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please get your facts straight before picking and choosing what is valid philosophy.

http://www.naturalism.org/

"If you don’t believe in anything supernatural – gods, ghosts, immaterial souls and spirits – then you subscribe to naturalism, the idea that nature is all there is."

Ah, I apologize, naturalism is not natural philosophy; the definition in that link you provided denotes materialism.

Thanks for clarifying that.

And according to your naturalistic beliefs, if a person is missing or has extra chromosomes, or has other genetic abnormalities that fall outside the baseline humane genome, they are not human. Have I got that right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.