What makes you human?

[Pojo-san]

What do you think make us human? Do you think there is something unique about us or not, and if you do what? I'm asking from an anthropological and philosophical perspective, so please do not use religion.

I believe that we are human because of two reasons. The first is our entire way of life depends on fire. We use it to cook our food, to make our vehicles move, to make products, to keep us warm, and so on. On top of that we are the only species on the planet who can create and control fire. So using, making and controlling fire is part of what makes us human. My other reason is that someone long time ago decided to call us human. Our species needed a name so some decided to call us human. We could have been easily called dogs, cats, or octopi. We are only human because we call ourselves humans.

What do you guys think? What do you believe makes you human?

Edit: Yes, I know genetics make you human in a biological sense. Besides that, what else do you think makes you human? The biology and genetics arguments is getting rather dull.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Being able to question my own existence. Humans are the only sentient beings on the planet. I think that pretty much sums it up.

Edit: I seem to have misused the word 'sentient'. I meant sapient. Please! Stop quoting me now!

 

[Uncle_Brainhorn]

I was born a human.

I am, therefore I am.

 

[SwimmingRock]

I suppose the most obvious, logical answer is genetics. I have human genes, so my body builds itself as human. You say you don't want religion brought into it, so I'm guessing that also includes metaphysical reasoning or philosophy.

 

[Canid117]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human

There you go

 

[JohanGasMask]

You know what they say? You are what you eat.

 

[Lyx]

About the only thing that makes me "human", is my body and bodily senses (then again, even for those, there are non-average features in my case). Besides of that, i'm quite unhuman.

 

[Pojo-san]

I suppose the most obvious, logical answer is genetics. I have human genes, so my body builds itself as human. You say you don't want religion brought into it, so I'm guessing that also includes metaphysical reasoning or philosophy.

Philosophy and religion are two very different things. One's a faith and the other is questioning the world around you. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that questions existence. When I say don't use religion I mean do not use God(s) or religious texts. You can use philosophy because it's an entirely different thing.

 

[Pojo-san]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human

There you go

Wikipedia is not a real source. Try again.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I'm fairly certain it was my parents, but there is the off chance that someone picked my race on a character creation screen.

 

[Chrysocollus]

I am human...because I can make mistakes...because I can make amends for them. Because I can do things I know will hurt me or others...or I can choose not to. Because I can take the feelings of another person, animal, or other things into account before I do something and then choose based on the effect I want to have.

...Or you could say it's because of genetics. So boring though.

 

[Scars Unseen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human

There you go

Wikipedia is not a real source. Try again.

In today's news: This site is not a university.
Tune in tomorrow when we reveal that it also not a news site.

 

[Thaluikhain]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human

There you go

Wikipedia is not a real source. Try again.

But it was created by humans. Maybe Pojo-san means that an essential quality of humans is writing about what humans are and posting it on wikipedia.

 

[Link XL1]

Philosophy and religion are two very different things.

...no they're not

Wikipedia is not a real source. Try again.

...yes it is, didnt you see the very long list of references and sources that were used in the making of that wiki article? if all thats not valid then what is!?

 

[Wrists]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human

There you go

Wikipedia is not a real source. Try again.

Did you check the colossal list of references at the end of the article?

EDIT: Blast! Ninja'd

Anyway....what makes me human? Well at a basic level it's because that's what I see and identify when I look in a mirror. Beyond that, I suppose it's hard to say with any certainty, if I had to give an answer it's the fact that it's so difficult to figure why it is what I am....wait, what?

 

[AwesomePeanutz]

Philosophy and religion are two very different things.

...no they're not

YES they are.

 

[Link XL1]

Being able to question my own existence. Humans are the only sentient beings on the planet. I think that pretty much sums it up.

actually i think sentient is the wrong word, because most living things are sentient.

 

[Link XL1]

Philosophy and religion are two very different things.

...no they're not

YES they are.

NO they're not.

 

[crudus]

I am going to go with my DNA. It more or less causes everything that has been named. Being a social creature does set me apart from a lot of animals.

Philosophy and religion are two very different things.

...no they're not

They are. People are willing to discuss philosophy more so than religion.