Humans are an interesting species. Our brains are filled with abstract thoughts, we are able to create civilizations and invent amazing devices, and we can see the complexities in the world around us that other species just can't comprehend. We have the ability to create and destroy, to love and to hate, to show empathy and to be remorseless. Humans are unpredictable. Even though according to DNA we are all nearly identical, each human being is infinitely different from one another. Thus, it is difficult to determine what it means to be "human".
Certain emotions are able to distinguish homo sapiens from other species. We able to experience empathy, regret, and logic. These characteristics would describe humans as virtuous, wise, intelligent beings. And certainly some humans are capable of these traits. However, humans can also be vile, wicked, and irrational creatures, capable of destruction and lacking any form of compassion. We have committed terrible acts over the ages. The humans who commit these deeds are referred to as "inhumane" because they lack the goodness that people believe humans possess. But, these people are human and do factor in to what it means to be human. We can't say that we are human because we have empathy or because we help each other because some do not have that traits. They are not a definitive characteristics of all humans.
I don't believe anyone can come up with a concrete definition for what a "human" is. Sure, genetically we can determine what is and what is not physically human. But inside, what defines the human race from every other race on the planet? Emotions? No. Many animals like dogs can be happy, sad, angry, etc. Intelligent thought and problem solving? No. Monkeys are able to learn sign language and if you put a mouse in a maze, they can work their way through to get a piece of cheese. Creating elaborate structures? No. Beavers are able to build dams that can able to block the flow of massive rivers. Is it simply our advanced brainpower that sets us apart? Maybe. But whatever it is, I sure don't know.
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Although humans have common traits they also have many different traits. We all have the same working body. All of our systems work in unity to stay alive. We only survive with oxygen. Unfortunatley sometimes, there are errors that are hidden inside of us whether it be a deadly cancer or disease. Besides that sad flaw, we all, as one, have a human system that works the same. But then there is a certain quality that is different in every one of us and that is our personalities. There are humans with optimistic, happy, sad, depressed, distasteful, cruel, unappreciative, etc. personalities that differ from one to another. And that is what makes us all different. Under our flesh, we may have systems that maintain a healthy working body, outside of it, we are all different.
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