Are Humans Still Humans?

Eukaryotic cells, which evolve to make animal cells, can develop into zygotes, morula, and blastocysts, until they form living beings, such as what we call humans. A generic, 6-letter word, which we believe we can be classified as. However, one must wonder: what are humans? Humans are defined as individuals of the genus Homo, who show the traits of humanism. Humanism is defined as the quality of being humane. Being humane is defined as having and showing benevolence, the quality of being well-meaning, and leading ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good. Thus, is humanity still a tangible concept? Or have humans changed so much that they are animals, with no clear values and classification?

In ethics, humanity is the subject of many debates. Human and animal testing are important when wondering about our true identities. Is testing new medicine on thousands of rats correct, in regard to the rats? Because well-meaning would infer positive intentions, aimed at finding what is best. Yet here, there is a best and a better, so is human nature not biased towards making its own species successful, even at the cost of others? Furthermore, does NBC News’ article, which outlines “Israel’s admission that in the 1990s, its forensic pathologists harvested organs from dead bodies, including Palestinians, without permission of their families”, not demonstrate the choice to empower one cultural identity over another? And is the harvesting of organs, even from dead organisms, correct, considering that it is humans profiting off of unconsenting humans’ bodies? Additionally, from the earliest times of the world, during periods of slavery, when one race was treated as animalistic for the comfort of another, was this not the opposite of well-meaningness and kindness? Was this not just focused on building a social hierarchy to place a group of individuals on a pedestal? In this situation, one group of people is fully dehumanized and treated as an animal, while the other empowers itself so much, that it becomes impulsive, just as an animal: so are either of them human? 

In ethics, humanity is also perceived as an obvious trait, omnipresent in all individuals. All people, in regards to their family, want to provide them with the best, and make them as proud as possible. All people feel. In the street, when one sees a child in need, compassion is an automatic trait that demonstrates humanity. Generally, we feel that we are human beings and that all we do aims toward improving our collective future, for the next generations.

Thus, the ideas of ethics demonstrate that since the 20th century, humans have lost their humanity. The original definition of the quality of being well-meaning has completely been forgotten, and people work for their own benefit, rather than for a group’s success. However, concepts of basic feeling and compassion qualify us, ethically as humans. Therefore, this question does not belong to a specific, one-word answer. 

Works Cited

The Associated Press. “Israel harvested organs in the ’90s without consent”, NBC News (2009): 1-4.