what makes a human being?

this term started for me with reviewing a course from the last term with a philosophical perspective. the central theme was - what makes a human being a human being? I have been thinking about this question further beyond the review session and have come down to some key characteristics.

freedom to explore, the ability to think that drives this exploration. explore my value system, do i believe in Tit for Tat, or is it the Other Cheek phenomenon that suits me better? do i prefer languages or numbers? what kind of people do i like to interact with? primarily the answers to these three questions determine our behaviour, there are many more, but i consider these three the most important. i will elaborate these further as follows, on the assumption that i am human after all. all possible puns intended.

humility: so my value system says, humility is essential. no matter how intelligent you are, how how many achievements you might have had, but if you are not humble, well then you got off the bus of human life. to make this dose of philosophy stronger, and to not make it too complicated, if you can detach yourself from your achievements, then it will free up space for more. further, i was a strong believer of Tit for Tat, that i will do as the other person does. and in the process, i just became a jigsaw puzzle of whatever i could capture and reflect of all that other people are. i realised that it is my individuality that reflects the human in me. i don't want to be the same as every other person, i want to weave it all together and make a collage. to develop the courage the other cheek rather than imitate him by slapping him back.

attachment: is it impossible to attach languages with numbers? why does it have to be an either or. somewhere i had heard about sanskrit being increasingly used for computer programming as it is a highly grammatically-structured and less-prone-to-error language. even the spanish i am learning now, has a logical base to it, and then there are also some exceptions to the rules. similarly, on a larger canvas, why can't the various elements in a human life be attached? i am a social being, i like to talk, to share, the isolation of the mba curriculum that i have created around me needs to be broken. family, friends, interest, passion.. if i could my family with my passion and have a bunch of friends who have a similar interests, what more do i need to be human?

flexibility: can you listen to what the other person is saying? can you do that when you are bursting with this idea you have to tell the same moment? can you stand in my shoes for a moment and think from my perspective, feel my confusions, in short, give me a break? can you do me a favour without the expectation of getting one back from me? can you cut some slack for me, if i don't conform to your standards? if your answer is yes, i would really like to be surrounded with people like you. and if it is not to even one of them, then i have to ask one questions to myself. the most important one of all, can i still be surrounded by you and preserve my innocence, not let myself get corrupted? if the answer to that remains yes then i have the right to call myself human.

my conclusion is that these three elements constitute our attitude, and it is this evolution of attitude that is absent in other living beings. i am grateful for all that i have, and i will strive to preserve it.