Contemplating on human dignity: who counts as human?

Abstract

The fundamental topic in humanities is clearly the study of humans. Neglecting the understanding and recognition of humans can hinder us from achieving generalizable results and may lead us toward arbitrary and group-based decisions. Failure to distinguish between biological species up to the point of denying the objectivity of species, conflicts between nominalists and realists, and limitations of logical definitions are problems that will be addressed in this article. In this study, it is argued that there is no universal definition for human beings as a biological species. Therefore, from a philosophical perspective, the rights and characteristics that are associated with humans in humanities cannot be attributed to human beings as a mere biological species. In an attempt to settle this issue, a minimal shared definition of "human" (as a philosophical entity) that encompasses differences and exceptions has been accepted and recognized. It is evident that an attachment cannot stand on the same level as the essence, and discussions regarding their incorporation should be considered. In this article, it has been concluded that the criteria for the philosophical human are self-awareness and freedom of choice, and offering a definition for "human" will be founded on these two features.