Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login

Kalikapsychosis - " All I see is 6 billion lunatics looking for the fastest ride out. Who's not crazy? Look around. Everyone's drinking, smoking, shooting up, shooting each other, or just plain screwing their brains out....Cos they don't want 'em anymore. I'm Crazy? Honey, I'm the original one eyed chicklet in the Kingdom of the blind, cos at least I admit the world makes me nuts." - Glory

The Essence of Humanity

November 27th 2009 05:21
When asked to describe what makes us human, what is, specifically, the essence of a human, humans typically fail. Some say, it is the body. The human, five pointed, anthropomorphic shape, containing its specific nervous system, cardio vascular system and high level brain. I am starting to think, in light of the other arguments, that this and this only is the correct explanation.

Because, some people say 'compassion' some people say 'communication'. They go on and on about emotional attributes. However, in our fiction we have attributed human characteristics such as generosity and compassion to things that are specifically IN human. Frankenstien. Vampires. Dragons. It is recorded fact that animals of ALL species, even reptiles, form bonds, show affection and deduce problems as a result of perception, when in years past, these were strictly human attributes.

And theres the other side of the coin - murderers, abusers, theives, people who cause incredible hurt and grief. We call them inhuman, we do. But are they? They walk, talk, have higher brain functions. They look just like us, and a penchant for destruction and violence is just as prevalent in the human animal as is kindness and love.

So begins my hunt for the essence of humanity. How would we describe the human to an alien race who cannot understand these factors as I have listed them above? What is the single factor we have in common that causes us to be, simply and completely, human? As I have mentioned, it cannot be those of love and compassion, as these are evident in all animal species. The same for all traits of destruction - evident in the animal world.

What is the essence of humanity? What makes us human, more than anything else? I plan to explore emotions, brain functions and the unique nervous system spread over the five pointed shape, using fictional and real world characters as examples.

But for now, just chew on that.

59
Vote


   
subscribe to this blog 


   

   


Comments
5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Journeywoman

November 27th 2009 07:51
"What is the single factor we have in common that causes us to be, simply and completely, human?"

I have absolutely no idea! I think this is going to be one of those questions where the deeper you delve into the topic, the further it eludes you. But a worthy undertaking nonetheless.... like with all philosophy it's not about coming up with the right answer, but thinking about the question being asked. Looking forward to reading your ideas.

Comment by Nonymous

November 28th 2009 01:42
Perhaps there is no essence, no single common denominator... After all, why should there be?

Comment by Kleonaptra

December 2nd 2009 01:52
Great answers guys!

Hiya Journeywoman,
Sorry I havnt had a chance to drop in on you lately. I will be following this up, but it being the silly season and me being in retail...Well. Lets just say, I'll be pressed for time. Im happy that you have taken an interest and I hope to see you on the later posts.

Nonymous...

Very, very interesting. As I said in the beginning, there is the human shape, nervous system. There is always that!

And I have heard before that it is the very differences to each other that spell out humanity. I like your thinking.

Comment by Dioxine

June 4th 2010 08:38
Some scientists have argued that animals lack consciousness, or rationale, or complex communication, but this seems highly unlikely. Those qualities might be limited in animals (as compared to humans) but they have to exist.

There probably are no hard borders between human and animal, but one attribute seems to be uniquely human. Abstract thought. Animals feel love, fear and anger, but only humans are able to think about love, fear or anger. Or think about thinking (which, in extreme cases, like my father, might lead to schizophrenia).

Comment by Kleonaptra

June 5th 2010 04:06
What a fantastic comment, thankyou for taking the time to make it.

I recently read 'Horses have neither memory nor imagination' and its making me think differently about this issue. A horse may have a bad experience travelling on a float, and ever thereafter be difficult to load, but he cant specifically remember WHY.

I know its been a long time since I posted this, but I do plan to follow it up.

Thanks again for your interest.

Add A Comment

To create a fully formatted comment please click here.


CLICK HERE TO LOGIN | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Name or Orble Tag
Home Page (optional)
Comments
Bold Italic Underline Strikethrough Separator Left Center Right Separator Quote Insert Link Insert Email
Notify me of replies
Notify extra people about this comment
Is this a private comment?
List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this comment


One per line max of 30

List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this private comment thread. Only the people in this list will be able to see or reply to your comment.


One per line max of 30

Your Name
(for the email going out to the above list, it can be different to your Orble Tag)
Your Email Address
(optional)
(required for reply notification)
Submit
More Posts
10 Posts
5 Posts
7 Posts
717 Posts dating from January 2007
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:
0
Moderated by Kleonaptra
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]