What Defines Us as Human? – Social Issues Essay

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Scientists and scholars try to answer the question of defining people as human and the aspects of this definition during many centuries. That is why the question of what can define people as human remains to be rather controversial and requiring answers developed from several perspectives. Thus, it is possible to focus on being human as the ability to be different from the other animals because of the biological nature and physical qualities.

Moreover, it is possible to differentiate between traits and attributes which make people be the best representatives of the society because of their morality, values, and consciousness. As a result, the most appropriate answer to the question can be found between the mentioned extremes, and it is necessary to pay attention to various biological, mental, and emotional qualities and features which help to define a man as human.

Although the particular features of the people’s skeletal structure and other physical qualities cannot be discussed as determining to speak about persons as human, it is important to focus on differences in the mental and emotional spheres which allow defining people as human because of their consciousness, empathy, and forgiveness.

The physical body of humans has many similar features with the bodies of such animals as apes. Furthermore, many animals are rather smart to perform different activities or to demonstrate their emotions. However, animals are ruled by their instincts, and their emotions are based on the different physical processes and changes in the bodies.

In spite of the fact that physiology plays an important role in determining the nature of a person, such emotions and feelings as consciousness, empathy, forgiveness, and love make people human about the other persons within the society. Those persons who can be defined as a human not only act, think, and develop but also feel and reflect on the world round them.

The aspect of socialization is significant to influence the development of a human person because only within the society an individual can demonstrate his or her qualities as a human person because she or he can feel, empathize, love, forgive, and act morally. From this point, people can become human when they interact with each other and mirror their behavior patterns. Thus, society influences the thoughts and actions of people, and it affects their human nature.

To discuss people as human, it is also necessary to pay attention to their morality with references to following the moral and ethical norms and rules accepted within the definite culture or society.

People’s mental abilities allow the evaluation of the situation from the point of morality and the further choice to act morally, as a human, or immorally. Animals cannot perceive the environment at such a high level. People are human when they choose to act morally and according to the socially accepted norms in all the situations because of their values and ideals.

Thus, people are human because their organisms and mental abilities allow thinking and decision-making in contrast to animals. Moreover, people are human when they use their abilities to feel and empathise while interacting with the other persons within the society because they are ruled by not only instincts and emotions based on the biological aspects but also by strong feelings such as love and forgiveness and by the understanding of principles of morality and value systems.

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IvyPanda. 2020. "What Defines Us as Human? - Social Issues." March 20, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-defines-us-as-human-social-issues/.

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