Opposable thumbs?

When I attended elementary school, my teachers asked, “What makes us human? What separates us from the beasts?”

They then posited the opposable thumb theory—we’re human because, unlike animals, we have opposable thumbs. That theory has long since been discredited, in part because we’re not the only animals with opposable thumbs. Orangutans, gorillas, koalas, opossums, and even some frogs have them.

Stories

Many years later, I read Lisa Cron’s excellent book Wired for Story. In it, Lisa claims that it’s not our opposable thumbs that make us human, but our ability to tell stories and remember them. She says, “Story was crucial to our evolution–more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to.”

That might explain why we’re so different from animals, but it doesn’t go to the core of what makes us human. Numerous storytellers (in both literature and film) have tackled this subject. Philip K. Dick’s short story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, and the novel Walkaway by Cory Doctorow are good examples of this. For more on Dick’s short story, check out my review.

Additionally, two television series, Severance and PLUR1BUS, grapple with what it means to be human.

Maybe memories make us human?

Severance

If you have no memory of your life, are you truly human? In this Apple TV+ series, people agree to sever their memories. Once severed, they have no memory of their home life while at work and, while at home, they have no knowledge of what they do at work.

The question becomes, are they fully human or are they now two completely unique humans using one body at different times of the day? Does severing our memories sever our humanity as well? For a more in-depth review of this outstanding television series, see my post, The World of Severance.

Free will

PLUR1BUS

In this Apple TV+ show starring Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, an alien virus transforms humanity into a happy, peaceful, and content mind hive. Carol and ten others are immune from the virus and keep their individuality and freedom of choice. There are definite benefits to a peaceful and benevolent society with individuals who can communicate with each other instantaneously, but at what price? Are they still human if they can’t make their own decisions?

The Devil Particle Series

In The Devil Particle Series, I also grapple with what makes us human. Scientists have discovered that humans have particles which contain moralistic evil. The scientists can extract the particles and then safely contain them in one human vessel.

Surely, a world without evil would be a good thing. But if humans have no choice but to do only good, to be only good, are they in fact human?

Imagination makes us human

Many, if not all, creative people, like me, grapple with the fact that their work is not considered lifesaving. We don’t rescue people from burning buildings, cure diseases, or invent life-altering contraptions. (Want to know who’s credited with saving the most lives in history? The answer might surprise you. Check out this list.)

Many institutions agree creatives are not invaluable and regularly cut arts programs from school curricula or defund artistic projects. The fine arts buildings on many college campuses are the last to be renovated, but boy, those engineering and science buildings are impressive.

Yes, of course, we should save lives and improve the quality of life, but does that simply mean keeping people healthy longer? If there were no paintings, music, drawings, poetry, dance, photography, sculptures, theater, movies, books—no artistic expressions of our imagination—would life be worth living?

Come see me this June!

Ladies’ Night at Soul Fire Art Studio Ltd, 636 Main Street, Delafield, Tuesday, June 11th, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Hartland Summer Market, Nixon Park in Hartland, Wisconsin, Sunday, June 14th, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. I’m sharing a booth with award-winning fantasy author Meadoe Hora.