The 'human condition'

[camoguard]

"The human condition" is just a pretentious way of saying we think a bit more then other species. Big fucking deal.

I would like to chime in on this point.

I don't think the "human condition" is necessarily limited to humans. What is common for humans might be common for other species. I think we're aware that at some level humans are a distinct species and since we don't know how many other species the human condition might affect and we only mean to include our species, we use this label. I've always viewed the concept as the core of existentialism anyway.

[charlou]

We no longer have to be victims of chance and circumstance.

We're always 'victims' of 'chance and circumstance'. We may be capable of some aspiration and manipulation of our situation, but circumstance is the ultimate arbiter.

[Trolldor]

We no longer have to be victims of chance and circumstance.

We're always 'victims' of chance and circumstance. We may be capable of some aspiration and manipulation of our situation, but circumstance is the ultimate arbiter.

Why must that be the case? Why can we not forge our own circumstances? Manifest our own opportunities? Have we not already?[/quote]

[JOZeldenrust]

We have self awareness.

That makes each of us individually responsible for the events and outcome of our own life.

There are massive industries in place that include religion, politics, sports, and celebrity that pander to our weakness to avoid that responsibility.

Other species are self-aware as well. Even Jackdaws are capable of recognizing their own reflection. Humans are only special from a human perspective.

Well, the extended period of infancy, and the ability to learn that comes with it, and to recognise complex patterns and forumlas, to imagine. Those are pretty special human traits.
But no, don't let us get in the way of your defeatist attitudes.

I'm not defeatist in the least. I greatly appreciate human culture, and I think many of the accomplishments of humanity are wonderful. I just don't think there is anything that fundamentally sets human beings apart from other species. Because of this, I think "the human condition" is an uninteresting idea for philosophical investigation.

[Coito ergo sum]

What does the phrase 'the human condition' mean to you?

Ummm....the experience of being human, in its entirety. Generally that would include such things as history, philosophy, culture, art, language, sociology, psychology, theology....all the ologies.....anything having to do with the experience of being human.

Is this a trick question?

[hadespussercats]

We have self awareness.

That makes each of us individually responsible for the events and outcome of our own life.

There are massive industries in place that include religion, politics, sports, and celebrity that pander to our weakness to avoid that responsibility.

Other species are self-aware as well. Even Jackdaws are capable of recognizing their own reflection. Humans are only special from a human perspective.

Well, the extended period of infancy, and the ability to learn that comes with it, and to recognise complex patterns and forumlas, to imagine. Those are pretty special human traits.
But no, don't let us get in the way of your defeatist attitudes.

I'm not defeatist in the least. I greatly appreciate human culture, and I think many of the accomplishments of humanity are wonderful. I just don't think there is anything that fundamentally sets human beings apart from other species. Because of this, I think "the human condition" is an uninteresting idea for philosophical investigation.

Seems like any sort of philosophical investigation would be uninteresting if you're not interested in humans as a species-- we are the only ones that philosophise, after all, even if that doesn't mean we're special.

[Trolldor]

But we are set apart. Look at everything humanity has done - for good or for bad - and you will find it comes to a point where there is simply no precedent for it.

[JimC]

But we are set apart. Look at everything humanity has done - for good or for bad - and you will find it comes to a point where there is simply no precedent for it.

Although in essence I agree with you, JOZ has a point. Many years ago, many aspects of cognition involving forsight, planning, self-image and many others were routinely denised to any non-human species, but careful experiments have teased out complexities of behaviour not previously realised. I suspect many species show at least some of our vaunted abilities in embryo, once we know where to look.

The gulf is stil real, but not because of some indescribable leap. It is down to the exponential growth of certain features of cognition in our ancestors, to the point where a difference in quantity beccomes such a magnitude that it can be called a difference in kind...

[Hermit]

The gulf is still real, but not because of some indescribable leap. It is down to the exponential growth of certain features of cognition in our ancestors, to the point where a difference in quantity becomes such a magnitude that it can be called a difference in kind...

[Trolldor]

But we are set apart. Look at everything humanity has done - for good or for bad - and you will find it comes to a point where there is simply no precedent for it.

Although in essence I agree with you, JOZ has a point. Many years ago, many aspects of cognition involving forsight, planning, self-image and many others were routinely denised to any non-human species, but careful experiments have teased out complexities of behaviour not previously realised. I suspect many species show at least some of our vaunted abilities in embryo, once we know where to look.

The gulf is stil real, but not because of some indescribable leap. It is down to the exponential growth of certain features of cognition in our ancestors, to the point where a difference in quantity beccomes such a magnitude that it can be called a difference in kind...

such a magnitude that it can be called a difference in kind...

Which is what I have been saying. And the primary reason is our ability to think abstractly. To take the principles of flight from a bird, and to recreate them in the form of a plane - not just a plane, but passenger jets, machines capable of going faster than the speed of sound. That is what sets humans apart.
We are not 'just another animal' or we would still be crawling through forest floors looking for nuts. We wouldn't be contemplating the universe and wondering what else rests out there.

[hiyymer]

Other species are self-aware as well. Even Jackdaws are capable of recognizing their own reflection. Humans are only special from a human perspective.

I agree. But we still have some unique capacity to manipulate reality. A lot of what we do is latent in our animal relatives, but we are the ones doing it. Chimps are able to hit upon the occasional tool use, but they aren't building nukes or high rises or surviving in foreign environments.

[burning bridges]

I believe our experience of guilt is something that sets us apart from other species. The willing against our instincts, our cruelty turned inward through the internalization of religious concepts such as sin and free will....

Man is the sickest animal, but at the same time the most interesting.

[Tero]

I think it means BO or athlete's foot, or maybe lice.

[mistermack]

Other species are self-aware as well. Even Jackdaws are capable of recognizing their own reflection. Humans are only special from a human perspective.

I agree. But we still have some unique capacity to manipulate reality. A lot of what we do is latent in our animal relatives, but we are the ones doing it. Chimps are able to hit upon the occasional tool use, but they aren't building nukes or high rises or surviving in foreign environments.

Agreed, of course. But it has to be seen in perspective. I've never built a high rise, or a nuclear power station. Neither has anyone I know.
We do these things as a group, not as individuals. If we didn't work together as a society, we'd still be hunting and gathering, not much advanced from bears or pigs.
And we have found a way to exploit the discoveries that dead people made years ago, and build on it. That is where the great leap forward came.

I'm not belittling what we do, I'm just trying to point out the context.
.

[Pappa]

I believe our experience of guilt is something that sets us apart from other species. The willing against our instincts, our cruelty turned inward through the internalization of religious concepts such as sin and free will....

Man is the sickest animal, but at the same time the most interesting.

I'm pretty sure guilt has been shown to occur in other apes.... if I remember correctly.