Humans are fragile, ephemeral creatures. We are fleshy, bipedal collections of organ and bones with almost no natural defenses against the "outside world". We as mortal as any other species on this planet, yet somehow we have set ourselves part. Why is that? The answer lies in the question "why". We question things. We want to know more. We're curious creatures. To be human is to have emotion and the ability to tell of and question that which we have never seen.
Humans are the only creature known to ourselves to ponder questions that have no definitive answer, such as the workings of philosophy and the meaning of life. We consciously believe in and question forces beyond our ken. Art allows us to voices out thoughts, feelings and emotions about these questions. It gives us a way to speak with others at a fundamental level. For example, Friday's documentary explained the significance of certain patterns at the Drakensberg, Lascaux, Altamira and other galleries of rock paintings- they are recordings of the visions painters experienced while in the caves. To be an artist is to convey emotion through art so that it may be recognized and understood. An artist creates art because it gives him or her a sense of fulfillment. Humans connect to each other through art. That imagination, the conscious belief in an unknown, makes us human.
We are really rather odd creatures. We differ from others in that we question things. We want to know- why? We have questioned the meaning of our existence so often and so thoroughly that there are classes devoted to these questions. I don't know about you, but I have no idea why we do this. It's not really necessary to our survival, is it? We really can physically survive without constantly questioning every aspect of our beings. That being said, it's amazing how questions have taken such a place in our lives. They exist to affirm that we are, indeed, human.
I really enjoyed the entire post; but i particularly like the introduction that's in white. The part that says, " yet somehow we have set ourselves apart", is so true to the very aspect of being human. We do believe we are different, and seek to find out ways to prove it. It is part of every action we undergo. One point that you made that really stood out to me was that you said art was a medium for humans to use to convey emotion. I've never been able to word it so well that way, being an artist myself, I think that could be a reason why; and also including that it is a way of communication on a fundamental level...that was an insight that I'm glad you decided to put in your post. Also the fact you present about how we could survive in our world without constantly pondering every aspect of our existence is so entirely true, it's not even funny, haha. So wondering why we do think in the first place, and what is the actual definition of a thought leads to us to "no definite answer"; as you said.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you pointed out that humans unnecessarily question everything and anything. As you said, we could easily go on without having to overthink things and the fact that we do makes us more intelligent creatures than all the other animals on the planet. I agree that all the questions about the meaning of being a human really are just people trying to confirm and understand why and if we're really here.
ReplyDeleteYour whole post genuinely sounds like I could've written it. With emotions, I feel people get lost in our own and stop seeing the big picture and what it truly means to be human and live on this earth as a human. I think the philosophical question of, "Is it essential to human life?" is one of the more necessarily asked questions. I have yet to meet a person who hasn't asked at least one question as to their existence, or being and why it is exactly that they were placed on this earth and I think that's what sets us apart from others.
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