texts:what_it_means_to_be_human
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| + | ====== What it means to be Human ====== | ||
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| “Who or what am I? I am a living, breathing organism signified by the words “human | “Who or what am I? I am a living, breathing organism signified by the words “human | ||
| - | being”. I am a material or physical being fairly recognisable over time to me and to others: I | + | being”. I am a material or physical being fairly recognizable over time to me and to others: I |
| am a body […]. However, there is another aspect of me not directly visible or definable. This | am a body […]. However, there is another aspect of me not directly visible or definable. This | ||
| is the aspect of me which thinks and feels, reflects and judges, remembers and anticipates. | is the aspect of me which thinks and feels, reflects and judges, remembers and anticipates. | ||
| Words used to describe this aspect include “mind”, “spirit”, “heart”, “soul”, “awareness” and | Words used to describe this aspect include “mind”, “spirit”, “heart”, “soul”, “awareness” and | ||
| “consciousness”. This part of me is aware that I can never be fully known or understood by | “consciousness”. This part of me is aware that I can never be fully known or understood by | ||
| - | myself or by others; it notices that although here may be some unchanging essence which is | + | myself or by others; it notices that although there may be some unchanging essence which is |
| “me”, this same “me” is also constantly changing and evolving. So I am a physical body and | “me”, this same “me” is also constantly changing and evolving. So I am a physical body and | ||
| an emotional and psychological (or spiritual) being. The two together make me a person.” | an emotional and psychological (or spiritual) being. The two together make me a person.” | ||
| - | [Source: adapted from K. O’Dwyer, (2011), “Who or What Am I?” Philosophy Now | + | [Source: adapted from K. O’Dwyer, (2011), “Who or What Am I?” Philosophy Now 84, www.phlosophynow.org accessed 1 July 2013] |
| - | + | ||
| - | 84, www.phlosophynow.org accessed 1 July 2013 | + | |
| With explicit reference to the stimulus and your won knowledge, discuss a | With explicit reference to the stimulus and your won knowledge, discuss a | ||
| philosophical issue related to the question of what it means to be a human. | philosophical issue related to the question of what it means to be a human. | ||
| - | What it means to be a Human? | + | What does it mean to be human? |
| What does it mean? We see them every day, yet, we, or I, still cannot give a solid, | What does it mean? We see them every day, yet, we, or I, still cannot give a solid, | ||
| exact definition of what it means to be a human. I don’t even know how to define the single | exact definition of what it means to be a human. I don’t even know how to define the single | ||
| - | word “human”. Although, from our stimulus we can extract a phrase: “So I am physical body | + | word “human”. Although, from our stimulus, we can extract a phrase: “So I am a physical body |
| and an emotional and psychological (or spiritual) being. The two together make me a | and an emotional and psychological (or spiritual) being. The two together make me a | ||
| - | person.” From the definition of K O’Dwyer we can conclude that the combination of the | + | person.” From the definition of K O’Dwyer, we can conclude that the combination of the |
| physical body and this “other aspect” which she calls “mind”, “spirit”, “heart”, “soul” is what | physical body and this “other aspect” which she calls “mind”, “spirit”, “heart”, “soul” is what | ||
| make or define a human. | make or define a human. | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| injury leading to fainting) and others that are sleeping, considered not human? When we are | injury leading to fainting) and others that are sleeping, considered not human? When we are | ||
| sleeping, we are not aware, we are not conscious of our surrounding even if our senses are | sleeping, we are not aware, we are not conscious of our surrounding even if our senses are | ||
| - | functional. So does this go against K. O’Dwyer’s definition? His definition of a human, | + | functional. So does this go against K. O’Dwyer’s definition? His definition of a human renders the existence of “awareness” or “consciousness” as a necessity, though those |
| - | renders the existence of “awareness” or “consciousness” as a necessity, thought those | + | |
| elements are absent when we are in a sleeping state. Hence, do we stop being human when | elements are absent when we are in a sleeping state. Hence, do we stop being human when | ||
| we sleep? Are we a person and not a human? Are those two words synonyms? I find it | we sleep? Are we a person and not a human? Are those two words synonyms? I find it | ||
| difficult, if not impossible, to give one, specific definition for all “human beings” | difficult, if not impossible, to give one, specific definition for all “human beings” | ||
| - | But let us go back to the main question, what does it means to be a human? From a | + | But let us go back to the main question, what does it mean to be a human? From a |
| pessimistic approach (which I partially agree with) it means nothing. So what that we are | pessimistic approach (which I partially agree with) it means nothing. So what that we are | ||
| “humans”? We just randomly ended up here. We are all just programmed to die in the end | “humans”? We just randomly ended up here. We are all just programmed to die in the end | ||
| Line 43: | Line 42: | ||
| and “awareness”, as K. O’Dwyer stated. Being a “human” is the process of projecting, | and “awareness”, as K. O’Dwyer stated. Being a “human” is the process of projecting, | ||
| showing to others, the whole of your “other aspect”, your “me” yourself and by this | showing to others, the whole of your “other aspect”, your “me” yourself and by this | ||
| - | interaction, constantly evolving it. --- //[[nmertzanis@gmail.com|Nikos Mertzanis]] 2017/11/25 16:46//Bill Katopodis | + | interaction, constantly evolving it. |
| + | |||
| + | //written by Vasilis Katopodis// | ||
texts/what_it_means_to_be_human.1511628422.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/11/25 16:47 by nm
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