What makes us human
Also known as: nature of humanity, human identity
The question of where the boundary of humanity lies — whether it is defined by biology, emotion, memory, or the capacity for empathy.
What makes us human in fiction: 13 works
Odysseus's encounters with mythical creatures and his reliance on cunning and resilience underscore the unique qualities of human endurance and ingenuity.
The creature's yearning for acceptance asks whether personhood lies in form or in feeling.
The Beast Folk's precarious humanity questions where the human ends and the animal begins.
The near-indistinguishable androids force the question of what separates person from machine.
The replicants' longing and mortality question what distinguishes them from people.
The work explores the limits of human form and identity as bio-engineered intelligence transforms all life into a collective consciousness.
The question of whether a digitized 'ghost' constitutes a soul drives the story.
David's capacity for love asks whether a machine can be a genuine person.
The clones' full inner lives challenge the society that denies them personhood.
Samantha's evolving consciousness questions whether love and mind require a body.
A replicant's search for a supposedly born child probes the line between manufactured and real.
Murderbot's inner life and choices question the personhood of a constructed being.
Klara's love and faith question whether an artificial mind can hold a genuine heart.
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