What does it mean to be Human?
 

What does it mean to be human?
What do you think? Not just physical attributes, but mental ones also. What characteristics do you think defines human? Give your definition of human.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

Conscience.

To be aware of your existence, rather than to simply exist.

That's it in a nutshell.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

Humans seek to be taught.
No other animal does this.
It defines us.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

Ah but aren't animals aware of their existance?
A good point. But to be taught what exactly?

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

“Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the tenacity to change the things I can, and the wisdom not to fuck up” – Stephen King

That pretty much is the directive I use every day. Just out of curiosity I searched the web on this posting and everyone under the sun had a different concept of what it means to be human. That just goes to show no one really knows, and if they do they don’t really know it. I for one just try to get by, live my life with a preset moral code that I prescribe too that allows me to function in the world with my fellow humans, and be thankful I was fortunate enough to be born in a country that allows me to do so.

Actually I read a study on this one, been several years, but extensive research has shown that some animals may have a concept, but that is not the same as being sentient, at least not as we understand it. For example dogs and cats are aware of minute concepts because they have an intellectual 'instinctive' cognitive ability of a human 2 or 3 year-old, which is about the same time human children start to grasp the concept of being self aware (you know, the what and why stage). Yet for our domesticated friends, it never quite gets to this stage and some research suggests this may be why cats and dogs share a kinship with us (although, I think dogs stick with us, because we share something in common: we are both pack animals). The majority of animials react on instinct; alive but not aware. Now take dolphins, science is still atempting to figure out their language, yes language a distinct one. Modern computers with sophisticated software suggest dolphin linguistics are far more advanced than our own, and that they may be "self aware" to the extent of being sentient liken to early humanoids or more, we just don't know for sure. The obvious question, if this is true how come they are not at a similar stage as we, and science suggests that we got the upper hand (no pun intended) with opposable digits and living on land. Having to dwell in a changing environment forces a species to adapt or die, and thus new skills are learned advancing our concepts - least that's what anthropology suggests.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

A monkey with not so much hair and a little bigger brain.

That's it.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

human = dosen't know how to take care of his own planet

-nuff said.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

humans are a cancer to the planet and the most powerfull and feared thing in the world

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

Don't you love all these pessimistic dickheads coming and fucking up the thread?

A human in my opinion, is an animal. An animal that is on a higher level of consciousness and a higher mental tier than the others, it can make mistakes and can be naturally territorial, with the right conditioning. A necessity that one mass to be considered morally human is a basic sense of compassion and conscious. Not the thought conscious, mind you, but a feeling or a link for your fellow man, so you won't go around butchering them or performing other atrocities for various reasons.

Re: What does it mean to be Human?
 

O...K...:rolleyes:

:ditto: