stone 6: Are We Becoming Less Human?

Both empowered and enslaved to classification, I suppose we should begin there.

The human belongs to the genus Homo, and of course, we are Homo Sapiens. While a lion would probably never see vainglory in a mirror or whisper while half-napping to itself, “what a glory to be the mane attraction”, humans do both.

And more.

We also love to look askance at other humans and try to slot them in categories in our heads or hearts. Mimetic theory boldly asserts that we are master copycats.

The word ‘human’ is old and related to the Late Middle English humaine, Old French humain(e) and Latin humanus. And if you must, here is a list of our self-referencing from around the world.

With all our observing, labeling, comparing and achieving, we have along the way established that we have characteristics which traditionally are opposed or different from God, animals and machines — particularly in how we are susceptible to weakness.

Ah.

But before that, we have developed language that celebrates the many marvels of our nature and ability, hence we have phrases such as ‘the milk of human kindness’ and come to associate and expect certain basic levels of decency and dignity to decry we must have “living conditions fit for a human”.