What Is a Human? Essay Example

Definition of a human being has for long taken controversial dimensions with many people confused whether human beings should be defined using genetic makeup, specific capabilities developed by philosophers, or spiritual being made in the image of God. People from various fields of knowledge and beliefs attempt to find the true definition of human beings. Accordingly, there have been various answers and beliefs based on science and religions. Oxford dictionary defines a human as "a man, woman or child of the species of Homo sapiens, distinguished from other animals by superior mental development, the power of articulate speech, and upright stance." Smith also states that only Homo sapiens are human. These definitions encompass the physical and intellectual capabilities of human beings. Powell contends that we can only establish a clear definition of a human being by defining human life. Powel defines life as a "possession of a self-sustaining biological process."

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Creech recognizes that human beings are the only creatures on the planet earth with developed brains that can at some point reflect on who exactly they are. Creech provided three narratives that answers who human beings are. Firstly, he uses the material narrative that contends that humans are the most evolved occupants of the planet earth. Humans are thus, "the product of time and chance, evolution and survival." The only thing making human special according to the material narrative from other creatures that inhabit the earth's ecosystem is the 'evolved brain.' The second narrative, the spiritual narrative, perceives human beings as "divine, spiritual beings that have become incarnated in physical bodies for a time" (Creech). This narrative argues that through death, the souls are freed from the body and return to the divine and is reincarnated into another body. Humans, being divine deserve to be treated with special care.

The last narrative presented by Creech, the Bible narrative, is based on the faiths of Judaism and Christianity. It claims that human beings were intentionally created by God in his image. Powell, also points out that the Bible contains information that defines human beings. She points out that God created man, both male and female in His image, thus gave man special status and dominion over all other creatures. As such, human beings have a personal relationship with God and are capable of loving and living in a community with one another (Creech). According to Powell, the Bible indicates that human being has both the spirit and body. The spirit, when separated from the body, is dead. The human beings have the ability to resurrect, meaning that, they have the value that surpasses their developmental stages and physical conditions. As such, the identity of a human being goes beyond the mental intelligence or physical body. Powell states that God cares for all human life regardless of capabilities. The human life begins while one is still in the mothers' womb and continues into adulthood. According to the Biblical narrative, human being regardless of age, gender, race are equally loved and valued by God (Creech).

The American Anthropological Association uses the lens of anthropology to understanding what makes us human. To do this, they employ a broad approach by learning the past life of human being through archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology to be able to explain the differences and similarities of human societies through space and time. According to AAA, human beings are people who exist in social relations with other people. Smith demonstrates that human beings are members of our natural kind. He also indicates that philosophers define humans as those who possess certain traits like autonomy and rationality. Powell notes that biology states that human life begins when the process of fertilization is complete, and a genetically new organism comes into being. Green, on the other hand, argues that molecular biology is incapable of establishing a meaningful distinction between human and nonhuman. Green shows that Paul Ehrlich explains the human differences using cultural evolution which the transformation in the body of non-genetic information that shapes human lives. Green also argues that clinical work can be used to show the neural basis that determines the characteristics of human beings including decision making, moral reasoning, responsibility taking, self-identity, emotions, spirituality, memory, and altruism among others.

Understanding who a human being is critical to us in making sense of various beliefs and assumptions about what it means to be human. According to the Bible, human beings are created by God in God's image. The natural science emphasizes the formation of communities in the society and world we inhabit. It also settles on the conclusion that human being is a member of a natural kind that one believes to be. This line of thought may spur differences along gender, races and religious hence resulting in conflicts. Our definition of who is a human being determines our relationship with our neighbors and our moral responsibility as a society.

Works Cited

Creech, R. R. (2017, May 05). What Is a Human Being? Retrieved from https://www.exploregod.com/what-is-a-human-being

Green, Joel B. "What Are Human Beings? Perspectives from Science and Scripture." Fuller Studio, 4 Nov. 2016, fullerstudio.fuller.edu/human-beings-perspectives-science-scripture/.

"Human Being | Definition of Human Being in English by Oxford Dictionaries." Oxford Dictionaries | English, Oxford Dictionaries, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/human_being

"What Does It Mean to Be Human?" Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/philosophy-dispatches/201205/what-does-it-mean-be-human,

"Enrichment Journal - Enriching and Equipping Spirit-Filled Ministers." If God's Creation Was "Very Good," How Could Evil Arise?Retrieved from enrichmentjournal.ag.org/201002/201002_134_define_person.cfm.

"What Is Anthropology?" What Is Anthropology? - Advance Your Career, American Anthropological Association, www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2150.

WHAT IS A HUMAN? WHAT THE ANSWERS MEAN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.lafayette.libproxy.ivytech.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=4a78b207-4073-4b2d-a5c2-f66f5f0f6649%40pdc-v-sessmgr05