I just reread a thread and was reminded I once asked rothschild to start a thread after he asked that question. What do you all think makes us human? I think it's empathy & compassion.

(06-27-2025, 02:31 PM)Duchess Wrote: I just reread a thread and was reminded I once asked rothschild to start a thread after he asked that question. What do you all think makes us human? I think it's empathy & compassion.

Agree. In addition also a conscience steers us as a guide to do right from wrong.
Also, resilience keeps us going.
As well as intelligence, to have the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. 

(06-27-2025, 02:31 PM)Duchess Wrote: I just reread a thread and was reminded I once asked rothschild to start a thread after he asked that question. What do you all think makes us human? I think it's empathy & compassion.

And laughter and love.

Y’all have pretty much described my dog.

I think if we’re going to claim to be higher up in the species order, there’s even more. Discernment. The ability to weigh differences or differing opinions with some objectivity. Humility. Spirituality.

Probably more but everything I ascribe to my dog and then some (I hope).

Sarcasm. No other critter on the planet has the ability to use it or understand when it is being used on you.

And unfortunately to kill senselessly 

(06-27-2025, 05:35 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: Sarcasm.  No other critter on the planet has the ability to use it or understand when it is being used on you.

If that’s it, no wonder humanity is doomed.

(06-27-2025, 02:31 PM)Duchess Wrote: I just reread a thread and was reminded I once asked rothschild to start a thread after he asked that question. What do you all think makes us human? I think it's empathy & compassion.

I'll add self-awareness, which I believe is the primary characteristic that sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. I think to some degree it can be awakened in animals we live with.

If you're observant you'll see that there are humans who have very little self-awareness, and there are those that have highly developed self-awareness.

Interestingly, as humans, if our average IQ score was 40 points less we wouldn't know to believe in a God.
If our collective average IQ score was 40 points higher we would know not to believe in a God.
Humans are right there in that sweet spot to believe in fairy tales and religious deities.

I believe in God and I'd like to think fairy tales are possible. At times I have a great deal of faith, and other times not so much. I have a hopeful nature.

(06-28-2025, 03:19 AM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: Interestingly, as humans, if our average IQ score was 40 points less we wouldn't know to believe in a God.
If our collective average IQ score was 40 points higher we would know not to believe in a God.
Humans are right there in that sweet spot to believe in fairy tales and religious deities.

That disturbs me. I haven’t really thought about intelligence as being a bench mark for humanity directly but some of the terms I’ve used (and/or seen) have been discernment, self awareness etc.

Point being I feel guilty for perhaps thinking that very stupid people are slightly less human (because some of the characteristics I’m considering require a degree of intelligence). Where does that leave a non verbal autistic person for example? 

Must ponder that.

Elephants are intelligent and seem to experience many emotions that humans do. Horses are intelligent, they are a pack animal and will mourn a missing pack member and express happiness when that member returns to the pack, elephants do the same. Pets can mourn a death of a pet they shared a home with.

Are those without a conscience monsters?

"Elephants are intelligent and seem to experience many emotions that humans do. Horses are intelligent, they are a pack animal and will mourn a missing pack member and express happiness when that member returns to the pack, elephants do the same. Pets can mourn a death of a pet they shared a home with".

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I am not diminishing even in the slightest your thoughts as certainly there is truth to it.
I remind myself though, we at times will attribute human emotion/feelings to animals when that capacity is not existent among them.

I think everyone can answer that question differently. What's humane for me may not be for you. So I ask. What makes us inhumane?

(06-28-2025, 12:46 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: __________________________________

I am not diminishing even in the slightest your thoughts as certainly there is truth to it.
I remind myself though, we at times will attribute human emotion/feelings to animals when that capacity is not existent among them.

I didn't take it that way at all.  

I am absolutely guilty of sometimes attributing human emotions to animals and have reminded myself more than once not to do that.

(06-28-2025, 12:46 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: "Elephants are intelligent and seem to experience many emotions that humans do. Horses are intelligent, they are a pack animal and will mourn a missing pack member and express happiness when that member returns to the pack, elephants do the same. Pets can mourn a death of a pet they shared a home with".

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I am not diminishing even in the slightest your thoughts as certainly there is truth to it.
I remind myself though, we at times will attribute human emotion/feelings to animals when that capacity is not existent among them.

Do you see a difference between animals in the wild and animals that are socialized?

(06-28-2025, 12:48 PM)F.U. Wrote: I think everyone can answer that question differently. What's humane for me may not be for you. So I ask. What makes us inhumane?

Lack of a conscience is the first thing that comes to mind.

"Do you see a difference between animals in the wild and animals that are socialized?"

-I do. That applies to humans too.

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"Lack of a conscience is the first thing that comes to mind."

Sadly, there are plenty of people who commit heinous acts who were raised with a conscience and know the difference between right and wrong.
People have the capacity for depravity with an awareness what they are doing is wrong yet justified.
They are the most frightening among us.

Good point although I think if someone can lose their conscience and commit a heinous act (believing it’s somehow justified) their conscience was somehow lacking to begin with.

Another term might be moral compass?

I just can’t fathom entirely acting against certain basic fundamentals of humanity. But, I know it happens. A prime example is the holocaust. The people that participated in the nazi death camps and somehow convinced themselves that that was okay?

Very scary.

(06-28-2025, 05:58 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: Sadly, there are plenty of people who commit heinous acts who were raised with a conscience and know the difference between right and wrong.
People have the capacity for depravity with an awareness what they are doing is wrong yet justified.
They are the most frightening among us.

Is conscience innate, or acquired?