Philosophy, searching for the truth on what it is to be human!

Is philosophy the search for what it is to be human? Or is it something more?

Hmmmm

Well, I am wondering what you mean by 'human.' Humans are a species, just like cats and dogs, and there is really no philosophy behind that. Philosophy is not the basis of human existance, we would exist without philosophies, we just wouldn't be the same in the sense that we would have no morals or dependent behaviors. If by 'human' you meant a species that has morals and dependent behaviors, than I would say 'yes.' Philosophy is everywhere, every time you ask a question or create a theory, and I would say that humans got their morals and behaviors from a theory that someone came up with way back when, that idea became the basis of human behavior. Everything we do is based on some sort of question or it has a reason, so I ask you, where would we be if we didn't have those reasons behind actions? The human race would still exist, but would we be as evolved? And, seeing as I believe that philosophy started with one basic idea of how we should behave, how did the idea of philosophy grow and get to be what you and I know it as?
33% Voted for by monkeygurl7863, baker920.
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- Torbjorn
  July 3, 2009
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  I mean the "idea" of being human. Nothing more, nothing less.
  
  And way back when is inaccurate. There are as many new philosophies on what human societies believe to be true created today, as there were yesterday.
- Weydon
  July 3, 2009
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  All of us are human beings, but it could be argued some people lack a degree of humanity. After all, inhuman is a word applied to human behavior at times. Though me and Tor disagree a little on the topic, I like to think if we were to find other life in the universe (or theoretically some advanced AI), they would have something akin to "humanity" even though they're an entirely different species (or machine lol). Really, another word could/should be used for the non-biological definition of "human".
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Interesting

I'd say, in a sense, philosophy IS what is it be human. The ability to think abstractly and put reasons behind actions.

I should note that I don't consider "philosophy" as exclusive a club as others. I think a group of kids hanging out talking about a movie and why it was good, or people expressing their love, is just as much philosophy as discussing the legitimacy of a person's rights. I find all introspection (and "extrospection", if you will) to be beautiful philosophy.

As far as philosophy being the search for what is to be human: Only when the question and though process specifically presses this, such as this one lol

33% Voted for by Weydon, jessicams.

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Torbjorn
June 27, 2009
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Well, to be human is just that. It's our stance on certain things. Another species of sentience might think our views are stupid or primitive. Maybe they just think that we're crazy.

So human philosophy really is the search for what it means to be human. It's our own thoughts, not someone else's.

Do you get what I'm trying to say? Philosophy is usually the discussion of opinions, and those opinions define us.

We may come across an alien life form that doesn't believe in entertainment, or doesn't believe in punishment for crimes, as long as they were committed with a cause or with a certain act of cunning.

So, even if we aren't asking the question, we are still defining and searching for what it is to be human.

Think about that for a while and tell me your head doesn't hurt!
Weydon
June 27, 2009
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lol I see what you mean, and it is very hard to consider! I like to think such a concept is VERY hypothetical however. That any being that could reach sentience would have something so closely resembling "humanity" that we would need a new word for it. Alien or even AI.

It's something explored a lot in TV and film, I think. An AI or alien is either shown to be just as (if not more) "human" than any of us, or the opposite: They have a cold, calculating ideal. Or sometimes they AT FIRST have that colder set of beliefs, but then changed after coming across us. Truly if anything, I would hope other races have warmer ideals and it is humans that are moved by THEM lol
Torbjorn
June 28, 2009
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Well, thats what I'm saying. We're going to come across other life forms that have their own philosophies weather they be the same as ours, similar to ours or completely different.

Tradition is also something to consider into philosophy, as it effects many decision's in other cultures.

We might find a race who is just as peaceful as we are (assuming we are peaceful in the future), but with complete different philosophies and ideals and policies. Some we might consider Ancient or barbaric!
Weydon
June 28, 2009
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Very true, but of course we don't necessarily have to go that far away. Cultural differences exist within humanity, but in the end I like to believe there is a common, uniting compassion in us
Torbjorn
June 30, 2009
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There are too many similarities in human culture to describe what I am describing. I mean meeting a race of sentient beings who are completely backwards to us, but they are peace bearing creatures.

Ideals we might see as stupid, or barbaric.

That is why Philosophy IS the essence of what it is to be human. Whatever word another species might have for it, would be the essence of what it is to be them!
Weydon
June 30, 2009
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I'm afraid I still don't entirely grasp what you say. I feel as if such concepts have not only been addressed in science fiction, but also can happen within human cultures and religions.
- Torbjorn
  July 1, 2009
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  What I am saying is, because of the chemical similarity of all human brains, we are similar enough that a good amount of truths and ideals are very similar.
  
  The concept I am trying to lay out is really hard to grasp because the only being we have been able to communicate with are ourselves.
  
  I could also be completely wrong and all life could have the same ideas and thoughts about what is right and wrong and what to do in certain situations, but I hope I am wrong as that would mean we are sitting in a VERY boring universe!
- - Weydon
    July 1, 2009
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    lol I hope you are wrong, and I don't think it would be very boring. I don't think our world is very boring. There is much different about us to celebrate, and much different about us that causes violence sadly. Perhaps not to the extent that you are trying to describe, but enough to keep me from using the adjective boring
    
    I also would very much like if--on the whole--other sentient beings don't become so much different than our overall moral beliefs in the end. It would be an effective (albeit somewhat faulty) means of proving there is an overall rhyme and reason to morality. On the other hand, plenty of humanity already has been shown capable of great atrocities, so I suppose other sentient races can go as much of either way as we have

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Philosphy is ...

It's the search for meaning in an otherwise neutral world, the endless need for purpose, individual integrity, survival, and importance. Without some kind of philosophy to live by and support, we lose our self-worth. Therefore, it's the pursuit of pacifying the anxiety of being alive.

Voted for by Ns243cxcvi.

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discuss?

I want your opinions.

Voted for by Torbjorn.

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Nosferatu
June 26, 2009
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.
Philosophy is the search for what it is to "percieve" one's self as human.
jessicams
June 27, 2009
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I agree with Weydon, that philosophy can fall from the lips of children, and perhaps their thoughts can be more profound then well read philosophers. I think philosophy is more then just finding out what it means to be human, but I think it is also a way in which people have evolved, by the words of another. I believe philosphy is like building blocks and intricate lego creating and destroying.
mudgod
June 30, 2009
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From the peanut gallery
Technically, according to Webster's, philosophy is the search for truth. So a philospher would be considered a searcher of truths. I find that most professing philosophers are only interested in finding just enough "truth" to support whatever position they favor. They don't really want to find out what the actual truth of a thing is.

So, just as all cognac is brandy yet all brandy is not cognac, then, what it means to be human can be philosophy, but not all philosophy is about what it means to be human.

One more thought. If a philosopher can never find a truth, as a philospopher, it would appear that they are failures.
- Weydon
  June 30, 2009
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  "One more thought. If a philosopher can never find a truth, as a philospopher, it would appear that they are failures. "
  
  Arguably. However, the definition only says they are a searcher of truths, not necessarily a finder. Once they search for truth, they are successful philosophers. Most any conversation or inner thoughts could easily be considered a search for truth. Even when someone is pushing their own beliefs, they are rarely doing so in full knowledge they are wrong--and if they are they don't consider it philosophical, they know full well they are being deceitful.
- - mudgod
    July 1, 2009
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    I stand corrected.
    
    The intent was that there many obvious truths, but many, feigning wisdom, can never see them through their own mental morass.
  - - Weydon
      July 1, 2009
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      I suppose--I feign wisdom fairly often myself