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What makes humans humans?

Hegel

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What is the essential "humanness" that makes us what we are, and not something else, i.e. what is it that makes humans humans?

I think that our ability to use language, defined as an infinately recombinatorial communication device makes us unique and human.

What do you think?
 
Our souls make us human.

Of course my defenition of a soul is "That which makes us human."

Sort of a run-around, but it works for me.
 
arcticpenguin said:
So, if its empathy or language, do we cease to be human if we go into a coma?
Click to expand...

Yes we cease. But, because the remaining humans still have empathy they treat the (no longer human) as a Human.
 
Hegel said:
What is the essential "humanness" that makes us what we are, and not something else, i.e. what is it that makes humans humans?

I think that our ability to use language, defined as an infinately recombinatorial communication device makes us unique and human.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
I think it would be the ability to conceptualize the question: " What makes humans human?"
 
Upchurch Yep have to agree the ability to empathise (or metaphorically get into the mind of another), can’t remember what documentary I saw that in, but they made a big point on empathy (and our ability to lie), it was all tied together very well.

I also favour our ability to link cause and effect or predictive ability.
 
Upchurch said:

Revised: we have the capacity to empathize with others?
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Psychopaths aren't capable to empathize. :p

So they aren't humans?

Peter ;)
 
chance said:
Upchurch Yep have to agree the ability to empathise (or metaphorically get into the mind of another), can’t remember what documentary I saw that in, but they made a big point on empathy (and our ability to lie), it was all tied together very well.

I also favour our ability to link cause and effect or predictive ability.
Click to expand...

I used to have a dog, that pretended she couldn't hear me when I called her name. I was so obvious sometimes, and quite amusing too. That could be perceived as a way of lying. Since animals doesn't communicate via talking, it is of course difficult for us humans to find out if they have the ability to lie or not.

I would say that our genetic code alone would tell if we're humans or not. We could of course mention feelings or other traits that we believe exist only in humans, but somewhere out there on a distant planet an alien race might exist that have the exact same feelings and emotions. It might be highly unlikely but not something we can rule out. That they possess these same emotions wouldn't neccessarily make them human. If they had the same genetic code as humans though, then I would say they were humans.

Peter ;)
 
plindboe
Psychopaths aren't capable to empathize So they aren't humans?
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I think you mean a sociopath. Good “all cat are dogs” argument.:)

Speaking of Dogs, I have seen working dogs feign a sore leg for sympathy to get out of work, could be a learned response rather than empathy, but it could be as close a lying a dog is able to achieve, good point.
 
I think you mean a sociopath.
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No. The terms psychopath and sociopath are interchangeable these days. Most people believe that there is a difference, but they're both used to describe the same disorder.

Look here: http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/psychopath.html

I love the first line on that page: "This is a fascinating clinical list. I leave it to you to apply these elements to any politician or talk show host you choose." :D

Peter ;)
 
Some day I'll dig it up, but a short article in a National Geographic a few years ago mentioned a group of monkeys who cared for one monkey who exhibited signs (behavioral and genetic after blood tests) of mental retardation.

I'll try and find it so I can give more details.
 
Feeling like humans make us human. All else is conjecture.

Language: Whales, apes have language, many animals have communication.

Tools: Apes are tool-makers.

Empathy: Many animals have empathy, apes, monkeys, whales, dogs.

Conscience: Ever seen a dog that had stolen a steak?

Etc. Any specific trait we come up with exists in non-human animals too. We are in many ways the most complex, but this is a difference in quantity, not in quality.

Hans
 
Ans on psycopaths, comas etc.: Once we have established our species to be humans, defective or diseased individuals are humans per genetics. Humans also have two legs, but a leggless person is still human.

Hans
 
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