Human Beings and Being Human
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There have been several definitions on human beings. According to scientists, human beings are Homo sapiens who belong to the animal kingdom. The scientists explore further and define a human being as a man, woman, or a child differentiated from other animals by superior mental development, an upright posture, and has the ability to articulate speech.
Kagan describes human beings as “rational animals” and the only species that have the ability to straddle the divide between matter and spirit (Kagan, 2016). However, this is contrary to what religions believe human beings are. For instance, Christianity refers to human beings as usnephesh, a word that is also used in animals (Noble, 2013). According to this religion, human beings are creatures that possess a spirit in them.
They are dust and when they die they return to the same dust same case to animals which have similar physiology and anatomy as that of human beings. According to Scupin, human beings not only inhabit the material world but also discern order within it, interpret it, act decisively upon it, and acquire meaning from it (Scupin, 2015).
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According to an evolutionary psychology perspective, human beings are like other primates. Although some individuals have strongly opposed that human beings did not descend exactly from chimpanzees; just like other primates they share a common ancestor and for this reason they have lots of similarities with some few unique elements that make them stand out as superior creatures to other primates (Tomasello, 2009). These elements include;
Bipedalism
As much as some animals may walk on two legs, the particular form of bipedalism among human beings is unique to their species as it aids them in propelling forward, having the walking gait as well as evolutionary functions (Gazzaniga, 2008).
Language
This is a unique aspect in comparison to other communication forms that are used by other primates since it allows human beings to generate an infinite set of utterances from finite set of elements. This language can only be acquired through social interaction since the grammatical rules and symbols of any specific language are largely arbitrary.
On the other hand, the known communication systems that some animals use express just a finite number of utterances transmitted genetically (Shotter, 2014). This is unlike human language that is unique and quite complex because it has evolved over time to serve other types of communication system.
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The Brain
According to Kagan , human beings are also defined as creatures with highly developed brains (Kagan, 2016). They can engage in abstract reasoning, problem solving, introspection, and language. The combination of bipedalism, this mental capabilities, and free hands for object manipulation has made it possible for human beings to engage in far greater use of tools than any other known species. Other features such as rationality and self awareness are unique only to human beings.
Being Human
At the most basic level, the meaning of being human has no difference to that of being a platypus, duck or an albatross, that is, be born, live, have ancestors, and die (Gardner, 2012). For one thing, being human means having the ability to abstract the idea of having ancestors to the idea of large social group prospering. Being human also translates to using tools to attain things that could not otherwise be achieved.
Human beings are able to invent numerous tools unlike other animals that have to wait for several to appear through evolution (Buss, 2015). For instance, recent tools have been developed to aid in cognitive and communication processes. Being human is associated with the understanding that other people are humans as well, share equal rights, and deserve to be treated in the same manner that you would like to be treated.
Individuals that oppose these rules have been described as wolves in human skins. Being human means that one acknowledges that ever individual deserves a certain form of respect regardless of their gender, profession, or material value (Badenoch and Cox, 2013). However, the same society that has influenced the better understanding of being human has been also fundamental in developing the sense of individualism among human beings.
This definition of human beings can make some individuals feel as if they are more superior to others. This is because it is based on the cognitive ability and physical ability and skills. It can result in some individuals identifying themselves with a certain group of people more than others leading to creation of hierarchy systems. For instance, individuals with better IQ results treat those with poor results as lesser human beings in the society.
This is not a strange phenomenon since it is common in schools whereby bright students usually associate only with other intelligent fellows. People with disabilities such as the crippled are usually discriminated in the society since they cannot use their two legs just like the ideal human being (Louden, 2014). Moreover, the definition states that being human is having the ability to use tools and come up with new equipments and machinery that makes life easier.
This can result in exclusion of people/nations who are lagging when it comes to discoveries. Such people may be deemed to be lesser human beings. This is common in the current world whereby developed rich countries seem to be enjoying certain rights and may get away easily when they infringe certain human rights unlike non-developed nations which are normally punished heavily when they engage in similar actions.
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Conclusion
The human being is a sophisticated matter. Trying to understand life and its meaning to human can be a futile undertaking. However, it is of great value if human beings recognize understand the basic principles of living life to the fullest. Being human is to determine a balance between several extremes which can at times be avoided or pursued to better understand life.
Bibliography
Badenoch, B., & Cox, P. 2013. We human beings are hardwired to connect with one another throughout life, to seek the most attuned attachments avail.The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Group Psychotherapy and Group Process,60(4), 1.
Buss, D. 2015. Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind. Psychology Press.
Gardner, A. 2012. Agency Uncovered: Archaeological Perspectives on Social Agency Power and Being Human. Taylor & Francis.
Gazzaniga, M.S., 2008. Human: The science behind what makes us unique. Ecco.
Kagan, J., 2016. On Being Human: Why Mind Matters. Yale University Press.
Louden, R. B. 2014. Kant’s impure ethics: from rational beings to human beings. Oxford University Press, USA.
Noble, D. F. 2013. The religion of technology: The divinity of man and the spirit of invention. Knopf.
Scupin, R., 2015. Cultural anthropology a global perspective. Pearson.
Shotter, J. 2014. From within the thick of it: Human beings doing being human in languaged worlds. Theory & Psychology, 24(4), 592-605.
Tomasello, M., 2009. The cultural origins of human cognition. Harvard University Press.
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