• Question: What makes us human?

    Asked by Chante to Eleni, Hannah, Jenny, Oli, Steven on 14 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Steven Street

      Steven Street answered on 14 Nov 2016:

      Hi Chante,

      That’s a very philosophical question!

      I would say that whatever you want can make you human – you get to decide what you think makes us human!

      On a physical level, being human would mean belonging to the species homo sapiens i guess, with all of the genetic information that that entails!

      Steve

    • Photo: Eleni Vikeli

      Eleni Vikeli answered on 15 Nov 2016:

      Hi Chante,

      Apart from the philosophical part of it as Steven replied so nicely, the technical view is that we are made up of six elements(99% of human body): oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. Only about 0.85% is composed of another five elements: potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.

      Eleni

    • Photo: Hannah Bolt

      Hannah Bolt answered on 15 Nov 2016:

      Hi Chante,

      As well as the answers given by Steve and Eleni, I think on a philosophical level what makes us human is our consciousness (i.e. brain and mind, how we think about ourselves), how we act, interact with other species and the consequences that these actions have on the world.

      What do you think makes us human?

      Hannah

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