What does it mean to be a Human?
The views expressed here are solely from the point of view of a Human Being. This doesn't necessarily represent the views of my fellow specie-mates. It is just one of my many humble attempts to understand the human psyche.
I am a human being. Which means that on a routine "human-day" i get to - Eat, sleep and drink CocaCola?. No, thank evolution for small mercies. Our faculties have evoloved/developed over a long period of time, and thanks to evolution and all that, we can do a few more things other than just sip on colored-aerated water.
So, what are your extra privileges on being born as a human? And what does it mean to be a human? Hmmm, It does not require much thought, now does it! There is only one word which comes to my mind. Confusion. Utter, pure, CMM Level 5 Confusion(nevermind if you did not get that). The dictionary defines it thus - "a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior".
Let us now proceed to dissect and analyze the definition.
"a mental state" - Well, we all have a mind (or so i believe is the common perception, barring a few Bush-es and shrubs and such other forms of flora) , and the mind can be found in different states; these states are brought about by different contexts; the issue of context here is important. The context decides the "state" of the "mind". The brain produces the relevant chemicals which determines the "state" of our "mind". The context decides which chemical is to be produced by the brain. So...it is important! The "in" chemical seems to be "Dopamine". You get to read about it almost everywhere - tabloids, magazines, journals, and even dating sites!. Ok, maybe i am deviating just a bit. Sorry about that, blame it on my current dominant chemical. And no, its not dopamine.
"lack of clear orderly thought and behaviour"- now "lack of ..." is something which we humans have in abundance. I mean, we "lack" a lot of things, like for example - "lack of perception", "lack of tolerance", "lack of understanding" et cetera. We are a constant reminder to ourselves of the things that we lack. And of the many things that we lack, "clear and orderly thought and behaviour" is one thing which we seem to be constantly, endlessly deprived of. But why, oh why? Again, its a mind-body thing. Your thoughts control your behaviour. You have happy thoughts - you buy others chocolates; You have bad thoughts - you buy others chocolates and finish them yourself. So, thoughts seem to be the main culprit here - the lack of it or vice-versa.
to be contd...
I am a human being. Which means that on a routine "human-day" i get to - Eat, sleep and drink CocaCola?. No, thank evolution for small mercies. Our faculties have evoloved/developed over a long period of time, and thanks to evolution and all that, we can do a few more things other than just sip on colored-aerated water.
So, what are your extra privileges on being born as a human? And what does it mean to be a human? Hmmm, It does not require much thought, now does it! There is only one word which comes to my mind. Confusion. Utter, pure, CMM Level 5 Confusion(nevermind if you did not get that). The dictionary defines it thus - "a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior".
Let us now proceed to dissect and analyze the definition.
"a mental state" - Well, we all have a mind (or so i believe is the common perception, barring a few Bush-es and shrubs and such other forms of flora) , and the mind can be found in different states; these states are brought about by different contexts; the issue of context here is important. The context decides the "state" of the "mind". The brain produces the relevant chemicals which determines the "state" of our "mind". The context decides which chemical is to be produced by the brain. So...it is important! The "in" chemical seems to be "Dopamine". You get to read about it almost everywhere - tabloids, magazines, journals, and even dating sites!. Ok, maybe i am deviating just a bit. Sorry about that, blame it on my current dominant chemical. And no, its not dopamine.
"lack of clear orderly thought and behaviour"- now "lack of ..." is something which we humans have in abundance. I mean, we "lack" a lot of things, like for example - "lack of perception", "lack of tolerance", "lack of understanding" et cetera. We are a constant reminder to ourselves of the things that we lack. And of the many things that we lack, "clear and orderly thought and behaviour" is one thing which we seem to be constantly, endlessly deprived of. But why, oh why? Again, its a mind-body thing. Your thoughts control your behaviour. You have happy thoughts - you buy others chocolates; You have bad thoughts - you buy others chocolates and finish them yourself. So, thoughts seem to be the main culprit here - the lack of it or vice-versa.
to be contd...
posted by baddimaga at 5:42 AM
5 Comments:
by your definition...i'm definitely 'human'...
I am so curious to know what u say next :P
@ mustabe_someone
:)
@the priestess
i could not complete the post because i was confused :P
it is a miracle that u even wrote this much!
heh. so this wasn't continued.
my tuppence, still.
you realize the problem of trying to define, is the fact that you have to rely on a lot of abstract nouns?
now, the problem with many abstract nouns and adjectives, is that they come, automatically with degrees - which means, they come wrapped in bright giftwrappings called "relative". they are not capable of being defined, without using some yardstick.
particularly when you say "lack of".
what is a surplus? what is a lacking?
We are a constant reminder to ourselves of the things that we lack.
but you do realize that "we" are the "judge" to what is "lacking"? that "we" "define" what is "complete"?
there, you're already assuming that there is a mind. that means, you're trying to objectively describe the system that you are part of.
which... doesn't serve the purpose.
logic, philosophy, scientistic explanations, intellectual (pardon me) shagging, all of that is what your mind put together. so, it's quite amusing how we need those same fundaes to explain the source. summat like explaining how 1+1 is 2, using screwing math.
*sheepish grin*
man, i rant!
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