Essence of Humanity: Self-Assessment and the Uniqueness of Being Human

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Introduction

The basic human dynamic is defined by humanity’s effortless question of, ultimately, what makes humans human. Within this, it will be determined what humanity means and what differentiates humans from animals, as well as the factors that contribute to this and, essentially, what the answer means. How the answer is applied, and if it’s plausible, will remain to be seen on what makes humans human.

Self-Reflection: The Foundation of Human Identity

First and foremost, the self-reflection of humanity to ponder its own existence is in itself an answer to what makes us human. The basic question of what is human is to question what makes us human. This self-reflection and self-awareness is an essential stepping stone to answering this question. As described by Baumeister and Bushman, “Self-awareness enables people to compare themselves to standards in a way that other animals cannot.” (Bushman, 2017). By this conclusion, the basis of self-evaluation and awareness allows for other human concepts to develop, such as personal and private self.

This is simply not just going as far as acknowledging existence but manipulating it in a way to separate this existence into two parts. From this, it even extends further to humans, branching that awareness further to their surroundings and, in part, where they stand based on other people’s evaluation of them (Bushman, 2017). The base of self-awareness for humans has developed beyond any animal’s comprehension of itself (Bushman, 2017). This is clearly seen from the extended development of other basic human instincts, which have merely surpassed a general acknowledgment of existence to cultural awareness and self-knowledge.

As said before, with self-awareness, humanity has also gained other tools in regard to self-assessment, such as cultural awareness and self-knowledge. In regards to what makes us human, there are many human problems that are only seen in humanity. These are things like knowing when they are adapting to cultural values or personal ones (Bushman,2017 ). These stem from problems seen in humanity, such as suicide and eating disorders. These can be seen when humans are not reaching their personal goals or not being accepted socially. The findings of what makes humans human can be extended further to intrinsic motivations, what can be gained, and for what prizes (Bushman, 2017). The development of self gained other aspects and, with that, rewards. In regards to these intrinsic motivations, at the base of it is a need for acceptance ( Bushman, 2017). This is another factor to add to humanity’s unique procedures with self, whether that be acceptance, rewards, or simply self-assessment.

Challenging Assumptions: Humans and Their Ape Relatives

With all the findings, the basis is humanity’s self-awareness and self-assessment that makes us human, but it is argued that humans and animals are relatively similar. The most contributing source to this argument is based on humanity’s distant relative, the apes. They are seen to have some sort of self-assessment, being able to acknowledge themselves in mirrors ( Andrew, 2016). As well as they also show emotional duress as humans do. With this being said, they are showing a similar sign of recognition that humans do within themself (Andrew, 2016). Overall, even as apes recognize themself to some extent and do show some emotion, it still remains the same that humans show far more distinctive human traits than apes (Andrew, 2016).

In the article given, the author even goes as far as to comment on the distinctive traits that make humans human, “We are the only species on this planet with the foresight capable of deliberately plotting a path toward a desirable long-term future. Plan it for the apes; because they can’t.” (Andrew, 2016). Even with the close relation, there are just more developed self-aware habits seen in humans and only a small amount seen in apes. As said before, while the relationship is close, the habits that are aligned between humans and apes are not distinctive traits in regard to what makes humans different from the rest of the animal kingdom. Thus, with that being said, in regards to them being similar now, it is mostly obsolete in terms of self-assessment. While there are other similarities, that is ultimately where it stops the argument of humanity not being distinctive from other animals.

The ultimate question is what makes humans human, and the basic answer to that is self-awareness and self-reflection. After evaluating what that actually means, it is humanity’s ability to acknowledge its existence, and with that, it has branched itself into a whole new meaning of what it is to be human, which can be seen by human things like suicide and eating disorders. While a wild animal would be happy to have a meal, humanity has eating disorders that go against basic instincts of food and could deny that basic instinct (Andrew, 2016).

With this basic instinct, the most basic of them all, staying alive is contradicted by humans killing themselves at alarming numbers. In that same argument, we put ourselves on a pedestal that we are animals and ultimately defy them each and every time (Andrew, 2016). Animals have a need to survive; we kill ourselves. Animals have a need to eat, and we, as humans, starve ourselves. This, alone, is what makes us human. In conclusion, what makes humans humans is the self-assessment and awareness that inevitably make us uniquely human.

Conclusion

This topic was interesting to identify what exactly makes humanity different; in my research, I learned quite a bit. However, next time in my investigation, I would like to use more sources to look further into other aspects of what makes humans human. Ultimately, the lack of other sources and different views is what makes this evaluation and investigation lackluster. The information was good, but a longer paper, with more sides that could be taken and expanded on, would have made this delve into a controversial topic more convincing.

References

Bushman, B. J. (2017). Does self-awareness enable accurate self-knowledge? Implications for behavior prediction and self-ethics. In The Oxford Handbook of the Human Essence (pp. 277-288). Oxford University Press.
Andrew, A. (2016). The Self-Aware Animal. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/opinion/sunday/the-self-aware-animal.html

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