How do you define a human being?

Question

What is required to be considered human? Do we merely draw the line on visual inspection? Is it the ability to communicate? Is it a level of intelligence? What defines being "human" to you? Please consider that if you are not careful, your answer may include other creatures that you might not intend, which is fine. Thank you for your input.

Answer 1

To me a human being is anyone that is capable of thought. Dogs, cats, deer, and birds, for example, while being a little brain dead at times, have the ability to think. They can rationalize, just like homosapiens can. We tend to draw the line on visual inspection, but that declares us an arrogant species if we do not stop and look at everything we cannot see. Just because they cannot walk on two legs, or because they can't use their wings to pick things up, doesn't make us the better of the biological cycle... concider this, their ancestors date back millions of years before homosapiens even came into the picture... If anything we should be asking THEM this question... So Fido, are homosapiens human beings or not???

Answer 2

Humans have a highly developed brain and are capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the hands for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other living species on Earth. Other higher-level thought processes of humans, such as self-awareness, rationality, and sapience are considered to be defining features of what constitutes a "person".

Answer 3

i say the form and it's restrictions or faults make an object what it is. there is that saying that if it acts like a duck, walks, talks, swims etc. then it is a duck. i can do all those however i would never have the life of a duck because i do not have it's faults and advantages. i would just be mimicking the actions. now say cyborg or with the way technology is going, post humans, they have the human form however the restrictions or faults they would lack. with a cyborg they could fall break their head open and in a matter of minutes be doing the same activity, no so with a human. with a posy human they could essentially, detour all susceptibility to diseases or decrease/increase attributes of what is human practically making them "invincible" (not really since as a new 'species" they have their own faults). so ultimately i break it down to faults and form.

Answer 4

Actually, this is a pretty difficult question that has many possible answers. My guess is that there is no universal agreement, so you have to seek your own answer. I suspect you already have judging from your question.

At the heart of the answer lies our free will and our ability to be self-aware. We can stand back and look at ourselves, our emotions, thoughts, and our "spirit." We are free to do good, and to do bad. We are capable of acting against our animal instincts by the exercise of our free choice.

So, my answer is humans have free will and are self-aware.

What about this question: Is a human embryo, or even an infant, fully human or a potential human? According to my answer an embryo and an infant are potential humans since they can not yet exercise free will and are not yet self-aware.

So, I guess I need to modify my definition to say that it applies when a body has the potential to have free will and be self-aware.

As you can tell your question quickly becomes a mine-field of trick questions and answers that are open to interpretation.

Good question though!

Answer 5

Having an opposable thumbs would define most humans and exclude other creatures. Unfortunately, this is not a complete definition as some humans are without them, but I can't think of any other creatures that possess them.

Answer 6

Human beings define themselves in biological, social, and spiritual terms. Biologically, humans are classified as the species Homo sapiens (Latin for "knowing man"): a bipedal primate belonging to the superfamily of Hominoidea, with all of the apes: chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons.

Answer 7

A human being makes music, makes art, recites poetry, writes literature and is interested in history. The animals do not do this.

Answer 8

Intelligent being, all characteristics of a mammal, independent minds, the ability to make serious decisions, and he/she has a conscience.

Answer 9

If they can mate with each other by sexual reproduction, producing other humans, then they are human - which means they are close enough genetically to mate and therefore the same species.

Answer 10

A naturally featherless non-reptilian biped.
Seriously though, humans are creatures that have the following karyotypes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Human_male_karyotpe.gif
OR
http://k-12.pisd.edu/currInst/science/Genetic/Karyo-norm.htm