What is HUMAN?

What is Human? is decidedly not the same question as "What is a Human?"

To answer the second question is to define the animal - yes, Human's are animals in the strict sense - in terms of biological activity, physical form and so on. This may include the fact a Human speaks (sometimes) and thinks (sometimes) but more or less at that boundary the definition starts to falter and stop. Such definition can - and does - take up entire books to fully explore, yet we are still describing an animal, a mammal to be exact. In the same way, for example, one set out to describe what a specific type of chimp was.

For further Information see the section "Etymology and definition" on The Wikipedia article "Human

But our question to think about is, "What is Human" what actually makes a human special, "better?" than any other living thing on Earth?. Any of them. Think about that, why is Human better than any other living thing on planet Earth?

Rather than start an almost infinite list of characteristics that afford Human this status let's just focus on what a Human has no other being on Earth does to start with. Even this list is too long to fully dive into here, we will scratch the surface, give you a taste.

And we will start by stating that in 21c if you are reading and understanding this, well then you are Human. Some so called A.I. can read (kind of) but right of we have a basic problem with going there. Stating some of the things wrong with this comparison is as good a place as any to start fleshing out Human is.

• A.I.is not alive - not yet and probably never will be. The myth of a computer gaining enough processing power and memory banks to suddenly "come alive" is frankly laudable and lack in any resemblance of proof or even feasibility with serious science and not a few nut jobs (even if said nut jobs hold high up positions in A.I. research) 21c A.I is not alive.

• This one is really fundamental, A.I. is not curious, does not act to seek out meaning and information. Yes we can ask it questions and some of them will even give a half reasonable answer (sometimes) but they do not seek relationships themselves, they do not seek understanding, they do not enquire (apart from small bits hardcoded).

  In short they do not do any of the things a Human does without even thinking. They do not seek anything except a rudimentary attempt at data linking in response to a direct question of some kind from a Human. Slight exceptions exist, yes, but they still do not breach this fundamental fact A.I. 21c does not seek anything on it's own.

• Another linked fundamental. A.I .does not understand anything not really. Most will fail this simple test "two bricks mortar and a house" as input. Chances are (depending on how good the A.I. is) you will get an answer about a wall or word riddle, not a Human response of "what the hell are you talking about - that makes no sense" It may even ask to "create" the riddle for you.

  They fake being intelligent quite well some of the time. That is about the best they can do. Scale defats them, as does writing clean elegant code. As do most things. They are glorified computers with a cute interface. That is all. They do not Understand

• Worse: They lie. A lot. and do it so well even a Human well versed in the subject often takes a while of exhaustive research to spot it. IFF anyone manages to 100% stop an A>I> doing this, then they might be useful... Maybe

Start to see what is Human?

Why Human never will be properly mimicked my a machine. Why it should never be mimicked by machine, even if it were possible.

Souls. There is much debate about what a soul actually is. True. But can any of you actually say you have not got one. You honestly feel that you can be Human and not possess a soul? Did not think so. Hand in hand with possessing a soul is another strictly Human attribute. Self awareness. To "feel" and know that you exist. That you belong to part of this world, this universe, possibly to wonder at the size of the universe compared to you. To feel joy, fear any emotion. Not emulate - but actually feel in real time. To need stimulus to exhibit the feeling. To be aware of yourself and thus of others. Not always in a good way, but aware.

No other living being can do all of that. No other living wonders why they exist at all, wonders what is the reason, what is out there.

Complex interplay of emotions (so far as we know). Have you ever felt happy but sad at the same time, ever felt a weight off your shoulders but sad as to why - even if it was better outcome for you personally?

Emotions and all the complex interplay between them. Just another aspect that no other creature can do or even mimic well. And certainly not mimic and understand and Feel.

The hope is that you begin to see what makes every Human special. What makes us what we are. Possibly why we did not evolve naturally on Earth - but that is as big a topic again, not for now.

In short being a Human is not the same - or even close - as seeking to understand What is Human.

Follows a list of jump off point for those interested in seeking deeper understanding...

[list of links goes here]

[ Links to rest of articles and writings]