What is meant by the term "human condition"?

Question

What is meant by the term "human condition"?

Answer 1

imperfection

Answer 2

It's a general term that refers to our biological traits, our physical and social needs, our physical and social challenges, and our means of finding solutions, or not finding solutions ... etc.

Answer 3

It describes how humans are imperfect and are never fully satisfied. This is because our "human spirit" is in conflict with the material world (including our physical bodies). It is a melancholy view of our human existence on earth. This is how I have always interpreted this term, when it is used in the arts and humanities. However, it may have a different meaning in some of the social sciences.

Answer 4

TO the best of my knowledge,,it is the way people react in situations in their daily lives.

Answer 5

It's kind of an amorphous concept, not incredibly specific or well-defined, and generally used in a literary rather than scientific way. For example, you hear much more about the "human condition" from politicians and barroom philosphers than from social scientists.

In general, the "human condition" is a term that means to put all of human experience and motivation, suffering and joy, history and hope, all in one tidy universalizing rhetorical package. It doesn't define anything, doesn't explain anything, and actually loses some important aspects about the study of humanity--that of the incredible amount of variation in the lives and experiences of people the world over.