What is a human being?

[Im_A]

What is a human being? Simple question.

here's what i found from wikipedia:

Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin for "wise man" or "knowing man") under the family Hominidae (known as the great apes).Humans have a highly devloped brain capable of abstract reasoning, language and introspection. This, combined with an erect body carriage that frees their upper limbs for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make greater use of tools than any other species.
Like most primates, humans are by nature social. However, humans are particularly adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression and the exchange of ideas. Humans create complex social structures composed of co-operating and competing groups, ranging in scale from individual families to nations, and social interaction between humans has established a variety of traditions, rituals, ethics, values, social norms, and laws which form the basis of human society. Humans also have a marked appreciation for beauty and aesthetics which, combined with the human desire for self-expression, has led to cultural innovations such as art, literature and music.
Humans are also noted for their desire to understand and influence the world around them, seeking to explain and manipulate natural phenomena through religion, science, philosophy and mythology. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills; humans are the only known species to build fires, cook their food, clothe themselves, and use numerous other technologies.

sums up my thoughts.

What distinguishes a human being from other beings?

the above answered some of this. plus i'll add that human beings can control naturalistic desire as compared to non-human being creatures.

When does a human being begin to be a human being (if ever) and when does he cease to be a human being (if ever)?

when she/he dies.

Does a human being have rights? If so, what are they and where do they come from?

here's a quote from Aquinas:

Now the object of the theological virtues is God Himself, Who is the last end of all, as surpassing the knowledge of our reason. On the other hand, the object of the intellectual and moral virtues is something comprehensible to human reason. Wherefore the theological virtues are specifically distinct from the moral and intellectual virtues.

i believe reasoning and searching what the possible relative moral issues has lead to descide what rights we do have and if we are to believe in God as an all-powerful being, then we must assure that everything comes from God.

Does a human being have duties? If so where do they come from?

this answer is biased from my own faith but i believe the 2 greatest commandments of Christ are the duties of ALL human beings.

and to look at it outside of my faith, i would answer, the duties of humanity would to be love their neighbor as themselves (cause the rule goes beyond the rules of religion), and to live long and propser the best they can in their lives.

Are human beings free?

good question. the best i offer my own opinion on is this:

imagine this situation...
a being whom is mortal and finite is trying to understand supposed ideas of infinity and immortal attributes of our life. this being equates all these transcendant ideas but is still that mere human being, as almost if he/she is trying to become non-human with personal knowledge or enlightenment, only getting to stare a glass jar full of knowledge darkly...no matter what progression one embraces.

point is, we will never know. if one believes in an all powerful God and free-will, i personally no working out the contradictions. two different type of make ups, and two different type of wills. if an infinite being is all powerful, then humanity's free-will has to be subserviant to that at all times. an omnipotent being can do anything by even second rating itself if you will, but that actions takes away ominpotence.

but realistic facts are that people show free-will and make their choices. but even with this, the determining factors to make a choice, controls free-will. whether it be fear of punishment of some sort, personal desires, maybe God overriding free-will for the fulfillment of His Will whatever the case is for that specific cases with human beings. each choice is determined for some reasoning from the human being, thus leading me to believe that free-will is one controlled either one the spectrum of an all-powerful God, whom sees to have a wide "playground"(so to speak) or it is controled by a deterministic mechanism in us. i have no reason to believe in complete free-will but i can't deny that people do make free-choices, but for a pure definition of "free-will" and to answer your question, i'll answer it this way, probably not...and this is my reasoning why to explain my own pov.

Anything else you can think of?

not right now.

(while I understand this question plays a large role in the abortion debate, I would prefer this thread not to be an abortion debate)

you won't have any argumentation for or against abortion coming from me. i don't like those discussions. people try to manipulate their points with emotional methods of thinking and as far as i'm concerned, people try to prode into the hearts and emotions to show they are right and the other person is wrong.

God Bless you...thank you for the discussion!

 

[ReluctantProphet]

Didn't I? I mentioned rationality, and abstract thought is a feature of rationality.


eudaimonia,

Mark

That isn't how I define rationality, but if you do, then okay.

To me rational means with purpose. Irrational means against purpose.

Animals are rational sometimes far more so than humans.

Abstract thought is the process involved in conceiving of "a cup" as opposed to "the cup". Some animals can do that also, but rarely, thus genetic similarities have to be thrown in to make the human fit the concept.

 

[Eudaimonist]

That isn't how I define rationality, but if you do, then okay.

To me rational means with purpose. Irrational means against purpose.

That's not really so different from my use of the term, since I see purpose and abstract understanding as related. To act with purpose is to act with understanding, e.g. of what one sets out to achieve and why, of one's choice of means, etc.

Non-human animals generally seem limited in this capacity.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[elman]

elman, these are mere assertions. Can you back them up? The bible probably won't cut it.

What has been your observations of humanity? Mine have been that we are able to be loving or unloving to each other and we are much more intelligent than the other animals, including the ability to realize where we are in the universe. What assertion of mine has been unobservable to you in the world around you?

 

[elman]

I prefer the definition of humans as the story telling chimpanzee. In other words, I think that it is our ability to tell stories about the world (either in our heads or to other people) that distinguishes us from other animals.

Language has, I think, played a very important part in this process. At the very least, it has allowed us to use symbols to represent complex objects and ideas, thus freeing up memory space and processing power for other things.

I would not be able to tell precisely when a human being becomes a human being. If I set a time for all, that is just arbitrary, which may be necessary for legal purposes but is not for philosophical ones. Presumably, story telling probably begins quite early in most; it may not ever happen for some.

Humans cease being humans when they cease telling stories about the world. This would usually happen upon death, but may occur earlier.

I do not think that we have rights, as right implies a moral absolute, which I do not think exists. Rights are in fact privileges that we, human beings, extend to other human beings and ourselves for biological, social, cultural, religious, economic and other reasons (and it is perhaps difficult to separate those reasons out from one another).

Responsibilities come about exactly the same way.

We have no such thing as free will, if that is what you mean by 'free'. If it is not, some humans are freer than others in terms of the restrictions placed upon them by other human beings.

Are we free to place restrictions on ourselves and others? Are we free to rebell against those restrictions? If we are unable to chose anything how do we get to be responsbile for what we chose? Are you free to believe you have no choices? Am I free to believe you do have choices?

 

[mahalia]

Man is the only creature who had the ability to blush,
or the need.​

Mark Twain
​

if you want, that can be what sets man apart from other beings

this is not such an original thought i guess, but i believe that humans have rights and freedoms (e.g. of opinion, religion, life, equality) that is morally correct; but along with that they have responsibilities, i.e. respect, tollerance etc.​

 

[David Gould]

Are we free to place restrictions on ourselves and others? Are we free to rebell against those restrictions? If we are unable to chose anything how do we get to be responsbile for what we chose? Are you free to believe you have no choices? Am I free to believe you do have choices?

If you are asking, 'Do we have free will?' then you already know the answer to that question. We are not responsible for the choices that we make.

Otherwise, I am unclear what you are asking.

 

[The Nihilist]

Why do you think that we are not responsible for the choices that we make? If we are not, then does the word responsible even mean anything?

 

[David Gould]

As we do not have free will, I do not think that we can be responsible for anything in the way that people usually use the word. As such, the word 'responsible' does not mean anything to me. It likely means something to those who believe in the existence of free will, however.

 

[ReluctantProphet]

Responsible - obligated to answer to the need or face the consequences of the need not being met.

Every living thing is responsible. The alternative is death.

"Sin" is merely an error in responsive behavior such as to not truly answer the real need. The consequences for sin are death.

Sins can be forgiven by being responsive to the needs of forgive-ability and thus avoid the ensuing death.

The child thinks in terms of blame and desires. The mature thinks in terms of responsibility and true need.

 

[elman]

[/FONT]

If you are asking, 'Do we have free will?' then you already know the answer to that question. We are not responsible for the choices that we make.

Otherwise, I am unclear what you are asking.

What I am asking shows we do have the ability to make choices and are therefore responsbible for our choices. Why or how can one come to the conclusion we have choices and are not responsible when we make the wrong choice? That seems apparent and illogical to me.

 

[elman]

As we do not have free will, I do not think that we can be responsible for anything in the way that people usually use the word. As such, the word 'responsible' does not mean anything to me. It likely means something to those who believe in the existence of free will, however.

Perhaps you should question the assumption about not having free will then you would be able to see that choices bring reponsibility.

 

[quatona]

Why do you think that we are not responsible for the choices that we make? If we are not, then does the word responsible even mean anything?

No, not to me. I do not understand what it means and what we need it for.
What does "responsibility" mean to you? (I am not so much looking for a dictionary definition, but more an explanation what as to how this concept is of significance to you).
Maybe you can give me a concrete example: A situation of human action or interaction, with
a. descriptions of the implications and suggestions if assuming that humans are responsible and
b. a description of the implications ad suggestions if assuming that humans are not responsible.
If someone acts in a particular way, how do you respond/react to it if - as you assume - he and you are responsible, and how would you respond/react to it if the two of you would not be responsible?

 

[David Gould]

Perhaps you should question the assumption about not having free will then you would be able to see that choices bring reponsibility.

It is not an assumption; it is a conclusion.

 

[David Gould]

What I am asking shows we do have the ability to make choices and are therefore responsbible for our choices. Why or how can one come to the conclusion we have choices and are not responsible when we make the wrong choice? That seems apparent and illogical to me.

I am unclear how making choices leads to responsibility if my making of choices is forced by circumstances or if my making of choices is random, the only two possibilities.

 

[Species8472]

What is a human being? Simple question.


I don't want to limit anyone, but if you need some extra subquestions to ponder:

What distinguishes a human being from other beings?

When does a human being begin to be a human being (if ever) and when does he cease to be a human being (if ever)?

Does a human being have rights? If so, what are they and where do they come from?

Does a human being have duties? If so where do they come from?

Are human beings free?

Anything else you can think of?

(while I understand this question plays a large role in the abortion debate, I would prefer this thread not to be an abortion debate)

A human being is a thing within itself. We all know what it means to be human; but do any of us know what it means to be superhuman?
Clarity of thought.

 

[[serious]]

What distinguishes a human being from other beings?

I'd say the line is drawn at the species barrier

When does a human being begin to be a human being (if ever) and when does he cease to be a human being (if ever)?

I'd say the end of being a human being is death. the body is then empty of that which made it human and it's merely a collection of carbon hydrogen and oxygen.

The when does a human life begin, difficult question. I'd say some point between conception and birth. While I'd consider a baby to be fully human prior to birth, I do not see a blastocyst as a person. I'd probably put it around when the child could be a live birth.

Does a human being have rights?

yes

If so, what are they and where do they come from?

They are a social construct based on our natural tendancy to value our own species over others. Tigers, not being human, would not share that value humanity and would eat us just the same.

Does a human being have duties?

yes

If so where do they come from?

some duties are a social construct same as rights, others I believe are given by God.

Are human beings free?

Within limits. all people in any society have certain limits placed on them in order for the society to adhere.

 

[ReluctantProphet]

I am unclear how making choices leads to responsibility if my making of choices is forced by circumstances or if my making of choices is random, the only two possibilities.

It is called the point of decision. As a thing that has the potental for evaluating circumstances and choosing an option, you have the "response-ablility" to choose the option that causes the least harm and the greatest help.

 

[Eryk]

Human beings are transcendental. When you've figured yourself out, you've transcended yourself in the observation, as an observer. When you get what you want, you want something more. And the answer to every question raises more questions.

Other human beings transcend your ability to understand or control them. You never know everything about a person, and you don't know what they'll do. You cannot make any person understand or do or want anything.

 

[Species8472]

The human form is divine.
One thought fills immensity, confusion or serenity.
The heart pathos.
The hands and feet--proportion.
The head is sublime.