Nothing really matters. Anyone can see. But, CAN YOU?

After spending yet another Valentine's Day with myself, truly. I had some time to think.

So, I thought. I pondered. I imagined.

After countless thoughts, this one thought kept the centrepiece.

"What does it mean to be a human?" Sounds simple. Right?

An age-old question, for which many philosophers pondered. But they rarely agreed on a single answer.

But here in "TnB" (shameless self-insert), we like a clear answer. So, before coming up with our own definition, let's first see what the knowledgeable fellas said (This part will be a tid-bit boring for some, but it's important for the further context):

Aristotle believed that humans are “rational animals.”

For him, our defining trait is the ability to reason, and the good life is achieved by cultivating virtue through rational thought and action. Humanity is fulfilled when we live in accordance with reason and pursue excellence. 

(a textbook definition. but seems vague.)

Plato saw humanity as tied to the soul’s quest for truth.

He argued that our essence lies in striving toward eternal forms: ideals of beauty, justice and goodness. To be human is to seek wisdom and transcend the material world through philosophical contemplation. 

(getting a bit too optimistic, aren't we, my man?)

René Descartes famously declared, “I think, therefore I am.” 

He defined humanity through conscious thought and self-awareness. For Descartes, the very act of doubting and thinking proves our existence and marks the essence of being human.

(too philosophical, too out of the world imagination. but cool nonetheless to quote)

Immanuel Kant emphasized humans as moral agents with autonomy.

He argued that our humanity lies in our capacity for moral reasoning, and that we must treat others as ends in themselves, never merely as means. Human dignity is rooted in this moral freedom. 

(but how much freedom IS too much freedom?)

Also, this is the guy who coined the term "Kantianism". How did I know about him in the first place?

ENGINEERING ETHICS Course

Martin Heidegger described humans as “beings-toward-death.”

He argued that awareness of our mortality shapes authentic existence. To be human is to confront the inevitability of death and live meaningfully in light of it. 

(seems a bit pessimistic if you ask me)

Confucius defined humanity through relationships and virtue.

He taught that being human means cultivating benevolence, respect, and social harmony. Our essence is realized not in isolation but in ethical conduct within family and society. 

(and thus bro literally created a new socio-political system)

(no kidding, this is an honest quote in chinese :3)

Karl Marx believed humans are defined by labor and social relations.

He argued that our essence lies in productive activity and collective life. Humanity is fulfilled when we engage in meaningful work and live in solidarity with others. 

(dear comrade. have some anti-capitalist copium)

(on a completely diff note, recommending hollow knight 10/10)

Albert Camus described humanity as the confrontation with the absurd.

He believed that life has no ultimate purpose, yet to be human is to live fully and create meaning despite this. Our dignity lies in embracing the absurd and continuing to seek joy and authenticity.

(basically your average modern-age realist thinking)

Now, our pre-requisite for the knowledge digest is complete. 

What benefit will that be for us for this conversation, you might ask?

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nothing. 

I simply lied. Goodnight.

But on a serious note:

The knowledge you take the time to learn is not compelled to be of any use to you. 

In the case of random knowledge, that is even more true. 

But still, we digest information daily. 

Why? Even knowing it won't ever help us in any way, developing or achieving any specific goals. Yet, we yearn for information.

Maybe that is why we're........human?

(Wait, I didn't lie then? Damn. *Self-aware confusion*)

Same way, in life, you will face information, people, places, situations that (in the long scheme of life) will not be of any use at all. They might sometimes even be harmful or toxic! (~gasp)

Meh, you'll probably be alright. As long as you got the indomitable spirit of the thing we know as "Humanity".

But all "Humans" aren't made equal.... You know that very well by now.

Some wake up at 6 AM, run 7 kilometers, meditate, drink green tea and read philosophy/news before breakfast.

Others wake up at 3 PM, stare at the ceiling for fifteen minutes and wonder why their phone battery is already at 13%.

Both are humans. (Somehow)

Some people dedicate their lives to curing diseases, inventing new tech or researching.
Some dedicate their lives to doomscrolling ig, writing weird blogs or sleeping.

Again… both are humans.
(One is slightly more productive than the other, if you didn't guess)

Some build bridges.
Some burn them.
Some stand on the bridge and debate the philosophical implications of the bridge.

Human diversity at its finest.

And yet, all of them....Every single one......share something strangely consistent.

We overthink.

We worry about the future. We regret the past.
We imagine alternate timelines where we said the cooler comeback during an argument three years ago.
We feel angry for letting some people know you who didn't deserve to even know your name.

(You know exactly which one's I'm talking about. EMOTIONAL DAMAGE)

A cat does not sit at night thinking: "Was I too rude to the other cat in 2019?"

A pigeon does not question the meaning of its existence while eating bread crumbs.

But humans?

Oh we absolutely will.

At 2:37 AM. With zero warning.

Which brings us back to the original question.

"What does it mean to be a human?"

After reviewing centuries of philosophy, after considering rationality, morality, absurdism, social structure, labor theory, existential dread, and whatever Heidegger was cooking…

I have reached a conclusion.

A groundbreaking one. A revolutionary one.

A definition that philosophers somehow missed for thousands of years.

Ready?

Here it is:

To be human is to be incompletely complete.

We are basically "walking contradictions".

We want freedom, but we also want security.
We want uniqueness, but we also want belonging.
We want success, but we also want comfort.

We want to know EVERYTHING.
But we also spend three hours watching random videos about “The Creepiest Resident Evil Game”.

(True story.)

Humans are truly strange creatures.

We create art. 

We start wars.

We write poetry about love.

We write emails that start with “per my last email”. (PTSD ALERT)

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We can be incredibly compassionate.

We can also be unbelievably petty.

And somehow all of that exists in the same species.

Sometimes even in the same person. Sometimes even in the same afternoon.

So maybe being human is not about "reason".

Not about morality. Not about confronting the absurd.

Maybe it's simply about experiencing the chaos of existence and still deciding to continue.

To keep learning random things.

To keep meeting random people.

To keep making mistakes.

To keep laughing at dumb jokes.

Even when none of it has a guaranteed purpose.

Even when philosophers cannot agree on the answer.

Even when Valentine's Day (and the days that come after) is once again spent with yourself.

But hey.

At least now you know something interesting about Aristotle, Plato, Kant and a few other philosophical gentlemen who probably also spent a Valentine's Day alone at some point. (History just didn't document it. *wink wink*)

And if none of this information ends up being useful in your life…

Well…

Congratulations!

You have just participated in one of the most human activities ever invented.

Learning something completely unnecessary.

And enjoying it anyway.

(Even if you didn't, what're you gonna do? Sue me? HEHHH)

(I'm kidding. Pls don't ^_^)

(Today’s Song Suggestion: Frank Sinatra - “My Way”)

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(Do comment your afterthoughts in the comments! )