InCiDeR
17th April 2015, 01:54
Human nature
“Human nature must be something which always remains one and the same, but which may be carried out in manifold ways.”
― Wilhelm von Humboldt, Humanist Without Portfolio: An Anthology of the writings of Wilhelm von Humboldt
We as a species have a tendency to refer negative remarks, claims and attributes regarding ourselves as humans. It is in our nature....
or...
is it?
When we describe what being human is all about we often use terms like compassion, friendship, love. Yet when we relate our humanity
to something else, we seem to change our view. All of a sudden our nature becomes more faulty, clumsy and all together more negative.
How come?
Sometimes I feel it was deliberately implanted in our very creation as an effective tool to keep us suppressed. To believe we are worth
nothing and have no power, to give us a sense of helplessness. Therefore looking for others to save us, because we ourselves will not be
able due to all our faults and shortcomings.
“Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness.”
― Honoré de Balzac, Père Goriot
---
In order to better understand the why, the who and the when. I searced for the origin of different statements.
Errare humanum est – "To err is human"
Saint Jerome (/dʒəˈroʊm/; Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Greek: Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; c. 347 – 30 September 420) was an Illyrian Latin Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, who also became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia. He is best known for his translation of most of the Bible into Latin (the translation that became known as the Vulgate).
Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome)
Hmmm.... translater of the Bible into Latin. I will keep my comments short, otherwise this first post will transform to a whole book... or library.
Human error
Definition
Human error means that something has been done that was "not intended by the actor; not desired by a set of rules or an external observer; or that led the task or system outside its acceptable limits". In short, it is a deviation from intention, expectation or desirability. Logically, human actions can fail to achieve their goal in two different ways: the actions can go as planned, but the plan can be inadequate (leading to mistakes); or, the plan can be satisfactory, but the performance can be deficient (leading to slips and lapses). However, a mere failure is not an error if there had been no plan to accomplish something in particular.
Sources
The cognitive study of human error is a very active research field, including work related to limits of memory and attention and also to decision making strategies such as the availability heuristic and other cognitive biases. Such heuristics and biases are strategies that are useful and often correct, but can lead to systematic patterns of error.(...)
Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_error)
Sadly, I have not yet managed to find the original source of who or when they decided to describe this as an human error.
However, some researchers have argued that the dichotomy of human actions as "correct" or "incorrect" is a harmful
oversimplification of a complex phenomena. It is like being human is an error in itself.
“I have no faith in human perfectibility. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
I'm only human
It is very hard to find any evidence, clues or even know how to search for the origin of this statement.
I find it interesting though that we tend to use this statement in situations where we fail to accomplish
or achieve something or make a misstake.
“I am only human, although I regret it.”
― Mark Twain
---
Humans are the problem
“The problem is that we are humans.”
― Yara Hikal
The significance of being human might perhaps only be firmly decided after experiencing the fullness of humanity.
However, it seems to me apparent that every human experience life and the so called reality uniquely and differently.
In a sense, these variations in the life experiences may or may not influence whether any human will be able to experience
what might be generally considered and accepted as the fullness of humanity.
Further, these variations in experience, will shape and differentiate the opinions on the meaning of being human,
as they will vary in relation to, and in synchronicity with, these very same differing experiences.
Therefore, it might not be within reach for any human to fully comprehend and objectively, accurately, with certainty
describe the meaning of being Human.
An absolute meaning or at least a core essence of being human may indeed exist, despite the above, but I am not positive
it will be reachable and understandable from a viewpoint within our existing realm and boundaries.
But I would very much like to explore it.
In conclusion, being human could in a way mean anything you choose...
“Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that. That's why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.”
― Grace Murray Hopper
Maybe it is time to change ancient meme and legacy of humanity,
beginning with the magic of written sound:
I love you, I'm only human.
“To visualize that which doesn't exist, yet to believe with confidence that it can be realized, is truly something miraculous.”
― Richard D. Sagor, Motivating Students and Teachers in an Era of Standards
EDIT: Funny though, how we struggle to understand the nature of aliens, yet I'm not sure we figured out our own
“Human nature must be something which always remains one and the same, but which may be carried out in manifold ways.”
― Wilhelm von Humboldt, Humanist Without Portfolio: An Anthology of the writings of Wilhelm von Humboldt
We as a species have a tendency to refer negative remarks, claims and attributes regarding ourselves as humans. It is in our nature....
or...
is it?
When we describe what being human is all about we often use terms like compassion, friendship, love. Yet when we relate our humanity
to something else, we seem to change our view. All of a sudden our nature becomes more faulty, clumsy and all together more negative.
How come?
Sometimes I feel it was deliberately implanted in our very creation as an effective tool to keep us suppressed. To believe we are worth
nothing and have no power, to give us a sense of helplessness. Therefore looking for others to save us, because we ourselves will not be
able due to all our faults and shortcomings.
“Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness.”
― Honoré de Balzac, Père Goriot
---
In order to better understand the why, the who and the when. I searced for the origin of different statements.
Errare humanum est – "To err is human"
Saint Jerome (/dʒəˈroʊm/; Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Greek: Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; c. 347 – 30 September 420) was an Illyrian Latin Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, who also became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia. He is best known for his translation of most of the Bible into Latin (the translation that became known as the Vulgate).
Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome)
Hmmm.... translater of the Bible into Latin. I will keep my comments short, otherwise this first post will transform to a whole book... or library.
Human error
Definition
Human error means that something has been done that was "not intended by the actor; not desired by a set of rules or an external observer; or that led the task or system outside its acceptable limits". In short, it is a deviation from intention, expectation or desirability. Logically, human actions can fail to achieve their goal in two different ways: the actions can go as planned, but the plan can be inadequate (leading to mistakes); or, the plan can be satisfactory, but the performance can be deficient (leading to slips and lapses). However, a mere failure is not an error if there had been no plan to accomplish something in particular.
Sources
The cognitive study of human error is a very active research field, including work related to limits of memory and attention and also to decision making strategies such as the availability heuristic and other cognitive biases. Such heuristics and biases are strategies that are useful and often correct, but can lead to systematic patterns of error.(...)
Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_error)
Sadly, I have not yet managed to find the original source of who or when they decided to describe this as an human error.
However, some researchers have argued that the dichotomy of human actions as "correct" or "incorrect" is a harmful
oversimplification of a complex phenomena. It is like being human is an error in itself.
“I have no faith in human perfectibility. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
I'm only human
It is very hard to find any evidence, clues or even know how to search for the origin of this statement.
I find it interesting though that we tend to use this statement in situations where we fail to accomplish
or achieve something or make a misstake.
“I am only human, although I regret it.”
― Mark Twain
---
Humans are the problem
“The problem is that we are humans.”
― Yara Hikal
The significance of being human might perhaps only be firmly decided after experiencing the fullness of humanity.
However, it seems to me apparent that every human experience life and the so called reality uniquely and differently.
In a sense, these variations in the life experiences may or may not influence whether any human will be able to experience
what might be generally considered and accepted as the fullness of humanity.
Further, these variations in experience, will shape and differentiate the opinions on the meaning of being human,
as they will vary in relation to, and in synchronicity with, these very same differing experiences.
Therefore, it might not be within reach for any human to fully comprehend and objectively, accurately, with certainty
describe the meaning of being Human.
An absolute meaning or at least a core essence of being human may indeed exist, despite the above, but I am not positive
it will be reachable and understandable from a viewpoint within our existing realm and boundaries.
But I would very much like to explore it.
In conclusion, being human could in a way mean anything you choose...
“Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that. That's why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.”
― Grace Murray Hopper
Maybe it is time to change ancient meme and legacy of humanity,
beginning with the magic of written sound:
I love you, I'm only human.
“To visualize that which doesn't exist, yet to believe with confidence that it can be realized, is truly something miraculous.”
― Richard D. Sagor, Motivating Students and Teachers in an Era of Standards
EDIT: Funny though, how we struggle to understand the nature of aliens, yet I'm not sure we figured out our own