The question "what does it mean to be human?" has been pondered by almost every cultural group and religion that has walked this Earth. There are many ways of answering this question, and none of them are wrong. Human beings are extremely complex, so the response to this never ending question is going to be equally as elaborate. Many people suggest that our ability to feel emotion and to express these feelings through art is what defines us, but I think that the answer to "what does it mean to be human?", lies in the question itself.
Human beings are the only mammals on Earth that are able to question themselves and challenge the boundaries of our species. We are able to function outside the normal limits of intuition, and think deeply about the world and our place in it. It is the ability to think abstractly and cognitively that defines the human being. Our brains go beyond the natural instinct to survive and ask "who", "what", "when", "how", and "why". It is the mere fact that we are given the opportunity to ask these questions that constructs the meaning of the human race.
Being able to ask the question, "what does it mean to be human?", also puts into perspective our ability to communicate through written and spoken language. Once again, we are the only mammals on Earth that have this capacity, and it is our dialect that sets us apart from all other walks of life. Due to this remarkable skill, we have been able to form powerful relationships with other human beings. We can tell jokes, ask questions, write literature, and express feelings through our use of language and I believe that this is one of the most indispensable qualities that humans possess.
Finally, it is through this fundamental question that we are able to grow as a race and deepen our ways of thinking. To be human means to question who we are and what we believe in- something that no other species on Earth gets the chance to do. It is remarkable that we are able to broaden our minds and question who we are as a whole and what defines us as an individual. All other species have remained relatively the same throughout recent history while human beings have been able to convert their ways of living and unfold new ideas. We have evolved spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually during our time on the planet and I think that is one of the most exclusive human characteristics. So, the question, "what does it mean to be human?", isn't a question at all- it's an answer.
I really liked this blog post! I think you approached the prompt from a unique angle, and find it creative that you treated the question we were given as an answer and answered accordingly. I also think that your setup was especially effective, starting with a more in-depth look at humans then tying in communication, as a way of conveying your point. Since a large part of being human seems to rely on our ability to communicate, do you think that an individual that is unable to communicate with others for whatever reason would be considered less human? or do you think that the inability to communicate would just reflect the less-than-ideal side of human evolution?
ReplyDeleteI really liked your approach to the prompt! I liked how you said that there isn't a right answer to what it means to be human. I think every human questions what it means and tries to live their life by their answer. I think being able to question everything is a big part to what makes us human. Being able to think outside the box and form complex relationships is a trait strictly human. I thought it was really interesting how you stated that the question was really the answer and how being able to ask this question makes us human. I really enjoyed reading your post!
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