The question of what makes us human is a complex and multifaceted one that has been explored by philosophers, scientists, and others. Here are some of the key ideas that have been put forward:
- Forethought: As far as we know, humans have the unique power of forethought: the ability to imagine the future in many possible iterations and then to act on those imaginings.
- Deliberate Choices: One of the key characteristics that makes us human appears to be that we can think about alternative futures and make deliberate choices.
- Human Nature: According to some philosophers, the "nature" of humans that is most worthy of philosophical interest is the one they possess not insofar as they are human, but insofar as they are rational animals.
- Cumulative Culture: Humans have the ability to engage in cumulative culture, which means that we can build on the knowledge and achievements of previous generations to create new and more complex technologies, social structures, and cultural practices.
- Self-awareness: Humans possess self-awareness, spiritual curiosity, and philosophical musings. We possess the capacity for mathematics, language, invention, mechanical adaptation, and music.
- Complex Thoughts: Our thoughts seem much more complex than those of other species. It could be argued that this is because we are a better version of a base model.
Overall, what makes us human is a complex and multifaceted question that has been explored by many different fields. While there is no one answer, some of the key characteristics that have been put forward include our ability to engage in forethought, deliberate choices, cumulative culture, and self-awareness.
