What makes one human?

Question

In other words, define humanity. What specific qualities or traits identifies humanity?

Answer 1

The ability to love and hate, sometimes at the same time. Compassion, empathy, rage, and revenge. Grasping the concept of time while also getting caught up in the moment. Seeking knowledge while fearing the unknown. Creating tools used constructively and destructively. Planning and building and shaping the environment while the environment continues to shape us. Waging wars and pursuing peace. Making laws then breaking them. Seeking control where there is none to be had and loosing control when it's yours to hold. Thinking ahead and remembering behind, then forgetting knowledge until it's remembered again. Humanity is lot's of stuff made up of the dark and light, healthy and sick, sour and sweet, opposites of almost everything all rolled up into one colossally complicated mass of confusion that occasionally makes sense but usually we just ascribe our own individual divergent meanings and believe it to be a shared understanding.

Answer 2

Chris - From a non-spiritual perspective, I think you can use several different measures. For example, the ability to use tools, language, altruistic tendencies, guilt, humor. However, I find these measures all pretty unsatisfactory, since you can argue that certain animals possess different ones in varying degrees. There is very little that differentiates a human being from any other mammal, without reference to the spiritual dimension. At the risk of being labeled a "specie-ist," I can tell you that I am persuaded by the idea that humans were created in the image of a supreme being, and that it is this image in each of us which endows every person with dignity and an identity which makes us unique in the world of animals, minerals, and vegetables. It seems to me that a departure from this standard carries with it the risk that humans start to treat each other as any other biological material, only useful as far as can be exploited, and then when that usefulness is gone, discarded like so much wilted cabbage. My two cents anyway, hope you find it a helpful perspective. Best, LSB

Answer 3

What you are essentially asking is the following; "What characterisitcs does man have that sets him apart from the other species?"

the answer to this question is relativlely simple, the human intellect. The intellect is the only thing no other species has on earth. Even the emotions are a phenomina resulting from the mix between instinct and mind. This is the reason Aristotle calles "ZAID" or man, RATIONAL ANIMAL.

The unpopular and somewhat disturbing conclusion of this is that if one does not partake of mind, meaning if one does not use his powers of ABSTRACTION he is not really a human being he is an animal!

Answer 4

That's a very hefty question, in my opinion.

Scientifically, there is a specific set of characteristics that make one a "Human" (homo sapien sapiens)

Genetically, there is a fairly strict rule; only two humans can make another human (barring laboratory research)

But as far as the other stuff, it could be thought ("I think, therefore I am"), reasoning, logic, morals, ethics...but most of all, I think what really makes us "us" is the desire to always be more than what we are; to always want higher learning; to be better at something than we were yesterday.

I believe it's that internal strive for more that defines humanity.

Answer 5

how do one define humanity? every individual defines humanity differently. you can't just simply choose the best answer and be done with it? the best answer for ths question may not be right. you are asking people to define. and with every definition tht you read, how u gonna conclude it? if i were to say that in the name of humanity, a robber will spare his victim's life? is that a specific qualities or trait for you?

Answer 6

Species. That's it.
Qualities and traits vary due to society, so therefore are not unified nor valid. What is considered human behavior here may not somewhere else.

Answer 7

One is human, first and foremost, by his physical characteristics. Humanity or the whole of humankind is identified by their ability to think and to show emotions and feelings. The other species has not these abilities but merely instinctual..

Answer 8

I've never seen another animal that thinks f*a*r*t*s are funny. That's what separates us from the apes. It was also said long ago by someone wise " We are the one animal that has a choice not to be an animal".

Answer 9

No one knows, because this idea of a person may be completely wrong. People may not exist, in which case you question will turn into "what is a thing?"

Answer 10

The ability to love, and our intelligence. I guess? We are a species, so their are also scientific reasons too. Also the ability to distinguish right from wrong and free will.