Recently, I was involved in a discussion about what it means to be 'human', and it got me thinking about the subject.
The human race likes to think of itself as superior to other species and therefore the strongest. Yes, we have developed sophisticated languages, are self-reflective, appreciate humour, build cities. But the word 'human' is a synonym for 'weak' in most contexts, e.g.
"I know I shouldn't have eaten those chocolates, but I'm only human!"
The OED defines human as "showing the better qualities of humankind, such as sensitivity".
Human also means compassionate when used in the sense of reminding others why we should feel for a persecuted and unpopular person:
"Because he's a human being!"
Diversity in the human race is vast, but we are still all connected through the experiences of human loss, joy, pain, love etc. Unfortunately, many people look for the differences between groups of humans rather than the similarities.
We are all an extension of the animal race, but, as Toynbee pointed out, that tiny biological difference makes for a huge leap into another species. Which is why the law of the jungle - 'survival of the fittest' - applies itself mercilessly in the jungle, but should not be applied in human society. We are too human to revert to animal when it suits us.
Bertrand Russell said of a good human society:
"Competition belongs solely on the sports' field". It's worth contemplating the consequences of such a world.
Russell also said in his 1953 book The Impact of Science on Society, "In like manner, the scientific rulers will provide one kind of education for ordinary men and women, and another for those who are to become holders of scientific power. Ordinary men and women will be expected to be docile, industrious, punctual, thoughtless, and contented. Of these qualities, probably contentment will be considered the most important. In order to produce it, all the researches of psycho-analysis, behaviourism, and biochemistry will be brought into play.... All the boys and girls will learn from an early age to be what is called 'co-operative,' i.e., to do exactly what everybody is doing. Initiative will be discouraged in these children, and insubordination, without being punished, will be scientifically trained out of them."
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