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What It Means To Be Human

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  • #1

    What It Means To Be Human

    Roger Scruton

    What It Means To Be Human

    Human beings are animals, composed of nerves and sinews, cardiovascular systems and digestive tracts. We hang from the tree of evolution on the same branch as the chimpanzee and the bonobo and not far from those of the elephant, the zebra and the mouse. We are governed by the laws of biology, and even our thoughts and emotions are the result of electrochemical processes in the brain. Such, at any rate, is the conception fostered by popular science and tub-thumped into us by Richard Dawkins. What room is there in this picture for the soul — the divine spark that supposedly distinguishes humanity from the rest of creation and which bears within itself the meaning of our life on earth? Can we not give a complete account of the human condition in biological terms, without referring to the elusive soul-stuff within? And if that is possible, what grounds have we for thinking that the soul exists, still less that it is the inner essence, the originating cause and the final end of our existence?

    Page not found -
    http://www.lewrockwell.com/spectator/spec260.html
    Achkerov kute.
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  • #2
    What it means to be human?
    Look but don't touch. Touch but don't taste. Taste but don't swallow. Kill yourself.

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    • #3
      This is the problem with Dawkins. The Blind Watchmaker is a nearly flawless book, but The Selfish Gene goes a little too far and ends up veering off into speculation that is no better than that of the religious fundamentalist.

      Rockwell makes some good points, but I think he is mistaken about one fundamental thing. If the human being does indeed possess a soul that is the seat of consciousness and the source of intelligence, then there will be aspects of human consciousness and intelligence that biology will not be able to account for. Furthermore, I can see no reason why we should not be able to come to know of our spiritual nature. If our intelligence does indeed have a spiritual origin, then our intellect should be capable of knowing that origin. Since it is obvious that our actions originate physiologically in the brain, it is there that we should look to see if there seems to be anything more behind it.

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      • #4
        Interesting metaphor. We've discussed this before though, haven't we?

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        • #5
          Originally posted by sSsflamesSs Interesting metaphor. We've discussed this before though, haven't we?
          Mouseboy and I got pretty far into this in the old soul thread. I still have more to post to that. I'll get to it eventually. I should probably start compiling what I have.

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          • #6
            Maybe this article belongs in the soul thread, that is, if you read the entire article.
            Achkerov kute.

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            • #7
              How would I have been able to comment on what Rockwell said if I didn't read the article? Give me a little credit here, man.

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              • #8
                The meaning of being human is when you are having an awful day as it is and then as you are almost done eating a hot dog, the remainder of it flies out of the bun, carrying a fair amount of mustard with it and lands on your very light colored khaki pants and you have to walk around all day, including going to class, with a big, yellow, beckoning stain.

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                • #9
                  I hate pants.

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                  • #10
                    What does it mean to be human? It seems like suffering and pain should be at the top of the definition somewhere.

                    The average human earns about $980 per year. Over half of the human population of the world is living in poverty, and around a quarter of the population is starving. 26% of the population is addicted to tobacco and 13% alive today will die from it.

                    Poverty and starvation will kill many many more.

                    The wealth of the world is directed up to the rich, leaving the bulk pennyless. Meanwhile our environment is laid waste, the very environment we depend upon for our existence, in pursuit of profit.

                    Perhaps we should kill all the idiots and plant more trees?


                    Originally posted by dusken I hate pants.
                    Then take them off ?
                    The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. -- F. Scott Fitzgerald

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