Human: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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'''Humans''', known [[taxonomy|taxonomically]] as '''''Homo sapiens''''' ([[Latin]]: "wise man" or "knowing man"),<ref>{{cite journal |author=Goodman M, Tagle D, Fitch D, Bailey W, Czelusniak J, Koop B, Benson P, Slightom J |title=Primate evolution at the DNA level and a classification of hominoids |journal=J Mol Evol |volume = 30 |issue=3 |pages=260–266 |year=1990 |pmid=2109087 |doi=10.1007/BF02099995}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hominidae Classification |work=Animal Diversity Web @ UMich |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Hominidae.html |accessdate=2006-09-25}}</ref> are the only [[Extant taxon|livingextant]] species in the ''[[Homo]]'' genus of [[bipedalism|bipedal]] [[primate]]s in [[Hominidae]], the [[great ape]] family. However, in some cases "human" is used to refer to any member of the genus ''Homo''.

Humans have a [[encephalization|highly developed]] [[human brain|brain]], capable of abstract [[reasoning]], [[language]], [[introspection]], and [[problem solving]]. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the hands for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of [[tool]]s than any other species on Earth. [[Mitochondrial DNA]] and fossil evidence indicates that [[anatomically modern humans|modern humans]] [[Recent African origin of modern humans|originated in Africa]] about 200,000 years ago.<ref>[http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/sap.htm The Smithsonian Institution, Human Origins Program]</ref> With individuals widespread in every continent except [[Antarctica]], humans are a [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]] species. {{asof|2010|8}}, the [[world population|population]] of humans was estimated to be about 6.8 billion.<ref name="popclock">{{cite web

Unlike any other known animal, humans possess higher forms of [[self-awareness]], [[rationality]], [[sapience]],<ref name=mc2>''Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues'' By [[Alasdair MacIntyre]] pp. 60, "But this [language] is insufficient for human rationality, What is needed in addition is the ability to construct sentences that contain as constituents either the sentences use to express the judgment about which the agent is reflecting, or references to those sentences."</ref><ref name=mcd>[[John McDowell]], ''Mind and World'', 1994. p.115, Harvard University Press, (quoted in ''Dependent Rational Animals'', by Alasdair MacIntyre): "In mere animals, sentience is in the service of a mode of life that is structured exclusively by immediate biological imperitives" [..] "merely animal life is shaped by goals whose control of the animal's behavior at a given moment is an immediate outcome of biological forces"</ref><ref name="flanagan">''The Really Hard Problem:Meaning in a Material World'', [[Owen Flanagan]], MIT Press </ref> and [[intellect]]; it is because of these unique qualities that a human being is considered a [[person]].<ref name=mc1>''Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues'' By [[Alasdair MacIntyre]] pp. 60, "Those who have wanted to draw a single sharp line between human and nonhuman animals have commonly laid emphasis upon the presence or absence of language as such, the ability to use and to respond to strings of syntactically ordered and semantically significant expressions whose utterance constitutes speech acts. But this is insuficient for human rationality. What is needed in addition.."</ref><ref name="mol">[http://www.duke.edu/~pk10/language/psych.htm Nature vs. Nurture: The Miracle of Language], by Malia Knezek. "What about the fact that other animals do not have similar language capabilities? [..] This obviously involves some innate difference between humans and other animals.. [..] ..other animals do not use any other form of language (i.e. sign language) even though they have the physiological capabilities." citing, [[Andy Clark]]. ''Being There: Putting Brain, Body, and World Together Again''. The MIT Press, 1997. 208-209).</ref>

Like most [[simian|higher primates]], humans are [[social animal]]s. However, humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex [[social structure]]s composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from [[family|families]] to [[nation]]s. [[Social interaction]]s between humans have established an extremely wide variety of values, [[norm (sociology)|social norms]], and rituals, which together form the basis of human society. With individuals widespread in every continent except [[Antarctica]], humans are a [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]] species. {{asof|2010|8}}, the [[world population|population]] of humans was estimated to be about 6.8 billion.<ref name="popclock">{{cite web▼

|url=http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html

|title=World POPClock Projection

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|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division/International Programs Center}}</ref>

▲Like most [[simian|higher primates]], humans are [[social animal]]s. However, humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex [[social structure]]s composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from [[family|families]] to [[nation]]s. [[Social interaction]]s between humans have established an extremely wide variety of values, [[norm (sociology)|social norms]], and rituals, which together form the basis of human society. With individuals widespread in every continent except [[Antarctica]], humans are a [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]] species. {{asof|2010|8}}, the [[world population|population]] of humans was estimated to be about 6.8 billion.<ref name="popclock">{{cite web

Humans are noted for their desire to understand and influence their environment, seeking to explain and manipulate phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills, which are passed down [[culture|culturally]]; humans are the only species known to build [[fire]]s, [[cooking|cook their food]], [[clothing|clothe]] themselves, and use numerous other [[technology|technologies]]. ▼

▲Humans are noted for their desire to understand and influence their environment, seeking to explain and manipulate phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills, which are passed down [[culture|culturally]]; humans are the only animal species known to build [[fire]]s, [[cooking|cook their food]], [[clothing|clothe]] themselves, and use numerous other [[technology|technologies]].

[[Mitochondrial DNA]] and fossil evidence indicates that [[anatomically modern humans|modern humans]] [[Recent African origin of modern humans|originated in Africa]] about 200,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/sap.htm|title=Human Evolution by The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program|work=Human Origins Initiative|publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]]|accessdate=2010-08-30}}</ref> In contrast, religious explanations commonly credit human origins and human capacity to a [[creator being]], who is believed by adherents to have endowed humans with a [[spirit]]ual nature beyond scientific understanding.<ref name="soul">{{cite book|last=Copleston|first=Frederick|title=A History of philosophy: medieval philosophy|page=223|quote= [[William of Auvergne (bishop)|William of Auvergne]] combines [[Aristotelian]] and [[Augustinian]] themes [..] he expressly adopts the Aristotelian definition of the soul as ''perfectio corporis physici organici potentia vitam habentis''". "It [the soul] is created and infused by God alone, neither generated by the parents nor educated from the potentiality of matter, and it is, morever, immortal.}} See also "[[Soul]]".</ref>

==Name==