What does it mean to be human?

Question

What does the phrase, "I am only human" or "It is only human" mean to you?

For example: "I am only human, don't expect me to understand what you mean!!!"

It's like this prase is meant to make a human out as, ignorant, stupid, etc... We are the most intelligent species alive...

Answer 1

i would have to say "i am only human" is a reasonable statement

we are only human, he have a lot of flaws, and just because we are successful species, it doesn't mean that things such as ignorance, stupidity, and general malfunction don't occur, for example.

www.youtube com/watch?v=7BKe-Pe8ZN4

do you see where I'm coming from? i mean its a good laugh, but i don't think something perfect would find it necessary to perform such acts,

just my thoughts

Answer 2

As intelligent as we human beings are, there are limits and flaws to us.

However, we should also point out that being human also means having the ability to negotiate, tolerate, compromise and most importantly care.  That should be a nice counter to the "I'm only human" excuse.

Answer 3

Even though we have the most complex brains on Earth, we have limits to our knowledge.  

Answer 4

Yes, but we still Fu*k up more than any other other species.

Answer 5

to have imperfections and such.

Answer 6

Humans are perfect. That phrase is stupid.

Answer 7

To love in the devine?

Answer 8

...according to who...seen some humans do things that made me wonder if they were from another planet...

...about intelligence...we communicate alright with only humans yet there are other living creatures too...why can't we communicate with them...

...i am only human means i have my limitations...according to me...

Answer 9

I think the phrase "I am only human" means that we are not supernatural beings that never make mistakes and that know everything.  

Sure, humans are the most intelligent species alive, but every human makes mistakes.  "I am only human" means that one should expect others to be superheros or supernatural beings.

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

It points out the incompatibility, between what humans want, or are given to do. Most people seem to use it in the context that we are not supernatural beings we are only human.

Answer 11

In effect, the phrase is a tautology, but that doesn't really say much. Often it's an open admission of error.

The best answer to the original question is to look at the world around you. Our actions act as the mirror of our psyche. What do you see? [First remember to strip away all the moral finery.]

Answer 12

To err is to be human.... we make mistakes.... we are not perfect.

"We are the most intelligent species alive..."  I personally would not put my last dollar on this statement!    I believe that out there somewhere in space there are other planets inhabited who and are more advanced.

1947 Roswell... they say that a space ship crashed in the desert and that soon after our technology started to progress rapidly.

Also, I am not saying the we humans are a stupid race, however, in my opinion, whatever intelligence we have is certainly not helping our dying planet!

Answer 13

To be human means that you are a rational animal.

The phrase "I am only human" could be substituted with

"There are limits to my ability to reason and this may result in errors of judgment"