define humanity.

I think you answered your own question. We are characterized by our physical and cultural constitutions and capabilities (as well as limitations). But I'm sure many would like to add something that includes our physical intelligence and our culturally constituted morality. We like the terms humanitarianism, humanism, and humaneness.

hmmm....
well, that was fast.

humanity is more of a moral thing. We are humans because of our anatomy and body structure but humanity is more than that. It is more than just looking like human. It is following the values that good human beings have set and that differentiate us from animals. So humanity is more of a moral thing.

I was talking to someone else about this. They said if you don't have a conscience you aren't a human being. I think what needs to be defined is are you talking about physical or psychological? One is definitely a human being due to their physical body but what is considered a human being as far as psychologically is definitely up for grabs.

On the negative side, a person once said that torture is inhumane. Another person added that while it may not be humane, it is very human: only humans, he said, torture.

- Murderers / Rapists / Theives are all human.
- Sociopaths can't be said to hold morals (in the way most of society holds them), but are human.
- what is culturally good in one society can be culturally bad in another
- small primitive societies have many fewer/simpler rules than large modern societies
- most morals have exceptions to the rule (eg bad to kill - unless the other person is immediately trying to kill you)

Morals aren't what make us human.

Right, Morals (frozen ethics) are not what makes us human. But I do think that the ability to make ethical choices may be.

Right, Morals (frozen ethics) are not what makes us human. But I do think that the ability to make ethical choices may be.

all of the above