What makes us fully human?

Question

could even state it "When are we fully human?"

thanks 4 the answers so far.

Answer 1

Linty,
I would like to say that what makes us fully human is when we are the most compassionate, benevolent, and caring for others, therefore the term "humane".

But then I thought that I have seen those traits in some animals too, so if we consider the condition of being a human, in a more specific sense, I would say that what makes us human is our ability to ponder on our existence.

AV

Answer 2

Our philosophy professor said that the use of rationality is what makes us fully human. To that there was a question raised: "How about those who were born with mental defects, or those who are mentally incapacitated, weren't they fully humans?

We definitely do not categorized them as not fully human though they do not have the capacity to reason.

In here comes the topic about the morality of human actions (ethics) or when man is held responsible for his actions. Those who couldn't be held responsible for the reason that they couldn't help it in the first place being unable to do so are also fully human.

In short, the truth and good about man... his very essence is what makes him fully human. When man denies this and he vitiates his nature, that is the time when he falls less of a man.

Answer 3

Well brother Linty,.....

This question is too deep for me to answer, but i think i'll just go right ahead and babble senselessly anyway.;-)

There is this poet in my country who wrote poem / eulogy about the death of a young and prominent poet who lived a hedonistic and immorallistic life. In the last line he wrote..." all that happens ,...happens within the limits of humanity" There's something about accepting the limits of others and yourself i have always found to be a mark of great humanity.

For me anyways, i think humanity is too vast and wild to be defined strictly or clearly. So, the very stuff that makes us human itself i feel is really very confusing.
If humaneness is what separate us from the lower animals, how wide is the gap? Can we be "fully" human even? Dunno.
But i think maybe what makes us fully human is when we accept that we have a degree of powerlessness and vulnerability in all of us. The word human is often used to describe or rather makes excuses for our weaknessness.
Hence the saying "...... i'm only human"
;-)
A wonderful question.

Answer 4

Ask that long enough and you might accidentally become a medicine man .. What is remarkable to me in some of the answers, is.. hmm ? .. In so saying that "this or that quality distinguishes us as 'human'" ... by extension, are they assuming that other creatures do not possess some dram of the same traits ? If they are implying that, are they certain they are correct?

I like that AV and Pencil retain a bit of humility towards their animal kindred .. :D

Answer 5

There are many things that makes us human. Logical thought. Questioning. The desire to rise above. Innovation. Imagination. These are but a few things out of a very long list.

Answer 6

Oh! Linty, that's a difficult one. Don't give me the 10 points! It's just plain thoughts!

I supposed it's a comparison with the rest of living things? Coz I always thought sometimes some animals can be quite logical, especially pets and somehow be able to read our expressions and thoughts sometimes.. And in fact, we do lack some of the qualities animals has.. For eg. strong 6th sense about some natural disaster on it's way, etc.. or they act in a different way to tell us something wrong is going to happen in the house...

Maybe what differentiates us from animals is the level of awareness and consciousness we have, and the evolution of our soul...

And while animals are not aware -- we know how it feels when we are naked. --- We wear clothings and they don't.

Answer 7

what makes us human is the possesion of our souls, accourding to the great philospher and theologist st. thomas aquinas. the human soul is distinct from all others in the fact that it is the combination of two souls bouth divine and animal, and upon our death the animal soul becomes dormant while the divine soul assends to heaven hell or pergatory. in this way there is nothing more human than human.

Answer 8

Hi linty. Good question. Thank you. I have spent many years working for those who suffer so I would say we are fully human when we are the most giving.

Answer 9

Hi, Linty,
He is more able, to experience all of his feelings, and is less afraid of any of his feelings..He is his own sifter of evidence, and is more open to evidence from all sources, he is completely engaged in the process of being and becoming himself, and thus discovers that he is soundly and realistically social... He lives more completely in this moment, but learns that this is the soundest living for all time.... He is becoming a more fully functioning organism, and because of the awareness of himself which flows freely in and through his experience, he is becoming a more fully functioning person....
>>>>>
It is all about : "Acceptance".. ;)
Just my opinion.. that's it ..............
>>>>>>

Thanks, for the question!;D

My regards!

Answer 10

Logic and empathy

And we are fully human when we master those qualities.