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What makes someone human? - 1/23/2011 10:05:54 PM   
SAMHAIN09


Posts: 207
Joined: 11/8/2010
Status: offline 		I just finished reading a comic series/manga called Hellsing it's about a organization where people fight monsters. The main character is a vampire known as Alucard who loves killing. The main antagonist is a man called The Major is a nazi from the rein of Hitler he murders lots of people and enjoys it and has a shit load of vampires working for him. Basically when two women finally defeat the Major the most evil man in the story the most shocking part about him comes out that he was a cyborg unlike his subordinates he was still a human being which shocks one of the women who I think always thought humans could never do the things he did because in her shock she debates wither he was a monster or not. When this is revealed the Major says to the women "As long as I still have my mind my will I will always be human even if all that's left of me is a computer chip as long as my will exists I will still be human."

This got me thinking if someone really was turned into a monster of some kind be it a vampire or werewolf or what have you as long as they maintained their personality could they still be considered human? What are your thoughts on this do you have to be human biologically to be human?
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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/23/2011 10:10:03 PM   
littlewonder


Posts: 15659
Status: offline 		what makes someone human?

Simple....

DNA


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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/23/2011 10:27:21 PM   
DarkSteven


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quote:

ORIGINAL: SAMHAIN09

This got me thinking if someone really was turned into a monster of some kind be it a vampire or werewolf or what have you as long as they maintained their personality could they still be considered human? What are your thoughts on this do you have to be human biologically to be human?



Kinda theoretical, don't you think?


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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 1:51:43 AM   
Rule


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quote:

ORIGINAL: SAMHAIN09
the Major says to the women "As long as I still have my mind my will I will always be human even if all that's left of me is a computer chip as long as my will exists I will still be human."

What are your thoughts on this do you have to be human biologically to be human?

I do not think that a computer chip can produce a mind, nor a will.

I might define being human according to my own ability to think out of the box - but that would have as consequence that nearly all people of our species would be categorized as 'not human'.

I might define being human according to the unique abilities of other people, but that would have as consequence that I and nearly all people of our species would be categorized as 'not human'.

I think that it would be more accurate to categorize me and other crazy people as both inhuman and - in one or more aspects - more than human.

What is a human being? I once promised T. that I would try to recall my long ago definition, but my memory is not forthcoming.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 1:56:55 AM   
NocturnalStalker


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Status: offline 		What is a man!?

A miserable pile of secrets!

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 5:24:28 AM   
cpK69


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quote:

ORIGINAL: SAMHAIN09

What are your thoughts on this do you have to be human biologically to be human?



From a philosophical perspective: being concerned with the wellbeing of humanity, as one of its members.

Human; the man of many colors.

Kim

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 6:04:20 AM   
xssve


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Status: offline 		Well, there is human biologically, the hominid homo sapiens sapiens, "moderns", in the anthropological parlance, and that of course is genetic, but when we say Human, we tend to be referring to a collection of socio-psychological traits we share in common, one of which we call humanity - which is what the poster above is referring to.

It is a bit of a fuzzy concept, people do "inhuman" things, and remain, biologically, homo sapiens sapiens, sapience defined as "the ability of an organism or entity to act with judgment".

There are even competing philosophies, "kill or be killed" social Dawinism, etc., it's all philosophically, "fuzzy logic" - though considerably less fuzzy in biological terms as it turns out - so the question becomes, what exactly are the defining characteristics of humans in terms of normative behavioral traits?

First, one has to look at the big picture: how are we like other animals, how are we different?


< Message edited by xssve -- 1/24/2011 6:05:42 AM >

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 11:39:53 AM   
DesFIP


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From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		In my more cynical moments, I could easily define human as the only creature who seeks to destroy his own kind. Look at the genocides in the last 100 years.

Actually though, we embody both the worst and the best at the same time. We can kill off entire peoples and also work tirelessly to save them. We are a walking contradiction.


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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 1:42:48 PM   
petmonkey


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Status: offline 		xssve,

i vaguely recall from my Anthropology, Philosophy and Linguistics 101 classes,  something about having complex cultural, ethical and language systems making us "Human", as well as our ability to perceive our own mortality early.  Am i on the right track?

i've forgotten the difference in size of the modern Human skull capacity and brain size relative to other mammals.

*Rests her heavy head on one hand, contemplates her wiggling opposable thumb on the other, considers Bonobos, Bees, and Elephants*

i wonder if we can include our perpetual systematizing and organizing to the mix . . .


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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 3:59:36 PM   
CherryNeko


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From: Mexico City
Status: offline 		All you need is common sense to be human.

Oh, but Hellsing... it's intended to make you think.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/24/2011 10:53:34 PM   
CalifChick


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quote:

What makes someone human?


::puts on southern accent::

The ability to accessorize.




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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/25/2011 12:03:50 PM   
abrattyprincess


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Status: offline 		Compassion.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/25/2011 12:41:50 PM   
sexyred1


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Status: offline 		The ability to reason and empathize.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/25/2011 12:45:34 PM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: SAMHAIN09

I just finished reading a comic series/manga called Hellsing it's about a organization where people fight monsters. The main character is a vampire known as Alucard who loves killing. The main antagonist is a man called The Major is a nazi from the rein of Hitler he murders lots of people and enjoys it and has a shit load of vampires working for him. Basically when two women finally defeat the Major the most evil man in the story the most shocking part about him comes out that he was a cyborg unlike his subordinates he was still a human being which shocks one of the women who I think always thought humans could never do the things he did because in her shock she debates wither he was a monster or not. When this is revealed the Major says to the women "As long as I still have my mind my will I will always be human even if all that's left of me is a computer chip as long as my will exists I will still be human."

This got me thinking if someone really was turned into a monster of some kind be it a vampire or werewolf or what have you as long as they maintained their personality could they still be considered human? What are your thoughts on this do you have to be human biologically to be human?




Our ability to reason?

Apart from that, we're pretty much like any other animal. A burrow owl cares for its young and seeks friendship, but it can't make a cup of tea.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/25/2011 1:11:45 PM   
sexyred1


Posts: 8998
Joined: 8/9/2007
Status: offline 		I also think that asking the question, what makes someone human, means you are human.

Unless it was some nefarious alien asking, like Anna on V who needs the info either breed humans or eat us.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/25/2011 2:53:49 PM   
0ldhen


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From: Henhouse in Trolltopia, Harleyville USA
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First, what is the name of this comic? I generally go for books not comics but this one sounds interesting.

I think what makes us human is our ability to love so greatly that we can put that love ahead of the basic animal instinct for self preservation.

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/26/2011 2:38:13 AM   
MercTech


Posts: 3706
Joined: 7/4/2006
Status: offline 		R.A.H. once quipped that "humans" understand calculus. Anyone that doesn't is simply an ape that has been taught to use silverware and not make messes on the carpet.

Just being perverse,
Stefan

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/26/2011 6:50:53 AM   
defiantbadgirl


Posts: 2988
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline 		a conscience

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/26/2011 10:46:03 AM   
InvisibleBlack


Posts: 865
Joined: 7/24/2009
Status: offline 		"What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—"

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RE: What makes someone human? - 1/26/2011 10:49:07 AM   
InvisibleBlack


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quote:

ORIGINAL: 0ldhen
First, what is the name of this comic? I generally go for books not comics but this one sounds interesting.


Hellsing is a Japanese manga by Kohta Hirano.

http://www.amazon.com/Hellsing-Vol-1-Kohta-Hirano/dp/159307056X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1296067590&sr=8-3


These is also an anime, but it omits huge (and critical) parts of the manga.

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