What is it to be human? For Russell and Plato, to be human is to wonder and explore the intellectual possibilities of life. Later in our readings we will see that Buddha agrees with Aristotle that to be human is to live a life of moderation. We will also see that for Confucius and the Bhagavad-Gita, to be human is to follow duty. All imply that to be human not only is to think beyond what is merely needed to survive, but also requires a sense of responsibility: intellectual honesty/open mindedness, moderation/rejection of extremism, and public and private duty towards others. With that being said, what do you believe are the qualities that distinguish us as human beings? Use the readings from the textbook as a beginning place to come up with your own version of what it means to be human. You are welcome to use the existing qualities listed above, add your own, or come up with a totally different set of criteria. Whatever the outcome, the grade for your essay will depend heavily on the logic of your justification for the qualities you present.
