What does it mean to be human?

This is just a short video about my discussion regarding, to me, a very important question about life. Just what is it that makes us a homosapien human? Besides the physiological or genetic characteristic.
Would it be religion? Compassion? Art? Love? And are these traits strictly exclusive to the homosapien? Or can other primates, mammals, or birds share these traits?
I look forward to hearing your comments. :)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• human
• humanism
• humanity
• homosapien
• homo sapien
• mammal
• love
• art
• science
• compassion
• religion
• the human condition
• suffering
• pain

[rosmarinusofficialis]

I frequently have the same thoughts as you. The former Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor caused an outcry with his remarks that "one cannot be fully human unless one seeks the transcendence, i.e. God". I was amused by it because I think I am fully human but do not believe in a god. Enjoyment in nature, the stars, mountains etc. as well as art and music make us human. I like your inclusion of the Chauvet cave horses.

[EmeraldxFairy]

@rosmarinusofficialis Thank you. I am glad you liked the video. :)

[LoveMattersMost]

Hi ExF. : ) I just wanted to hint at my own honest, view of the "purpose" of life. I think all that we strive to be or achieve in the outer world of the 5-senses will evaporate and disappear one day. Like building castles of sand. But I think we are given an opportunity to meditate and try to raise our consciousness in meditation. To transcend the physical world. To break out of the cycle of reincarnation. Everything else we try to achieve or do fades into nothingness with time. Ok, bye! Bri.

[EmeraldxFairy]

@LoveMattersMost Hi Bri! That's very interesting, and I agree that we meditate to raise consciousness & transcend the physical world. I don't know enough about reincarnation or the laws or rules regarding that, so I can't say whether I believe in it or not. As for whether we all eventually become "nothing", I once asked my husband whether we'll be together forever after death, and his reply was "Yes, because information does not disintegrate." And that idea struck a chord with me.

[LoveMattersMost]

@EmeraldxFairy Hi. Well, your husband's comment was unique. It is a very sophisticated view. He is clearly a scientist to think of metaphysics in terms of physics (information and entropy). I like the idea of continuity after death. It sounds romantic to me. : )

[EmeraldxFairy]

@LoveMattersMost Thank you Bri. Personally, I know very little about physics so I had no idea what he meant by that at first, hah. :) Most other people I know would probably have no idea either, but I knew you would appreciate it.

[EmeraldxFairy]

@LoveMattersMost It may be so - some, more than others. I tend to think that most people will not stop to think of such questions because it makes them uncomfortable, especially since it makes them look at their daily life, which they would rather not examine so closely.

[EmeraldxFairy]

@LoveMattersMost Hi Bri! I should be the one to apologize about slow replies. I completely missed your last two comments on this page, so here I am, replying back a whole week later.

You know what's interesting? I get that same experience when I talk to other idealists especially, or when I listen to an idealist talk about something that interests them, regardless of whether they are male or female.

[LoveMattersMost]

I think at some point, every thoughtful person asks him or herself: Does anything really matter? Why? because the cause and effect of all our actions is not immediately visible to us. As some point everyone asks, "Does anything really matter?" Play Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," to get the feeling behind this comment. And that song was such a hit I believe, because it "resonated" with so many people, like us. : ) Brian.

[LoveMattersMost]

@EmeraldxFairy Hi ExF! : ) Sorry for the slow reply..the real world got in the way. Haha. But I'm back playing on YouTube again. Yes, this video was a completely unexpected treat for me. The reason being, as I watched your wonderfully diverse photos, and I listened to your voice thinking out loud, I was captivated by the experience because it was like being in my own Head, listening to my own thoughts! (although the voice was unnervingly feminine! haha). We have asked the same questions! : )