What does it mean to be human? There are many features that differentiate our species. We build skyscrapers, pray, make art, read books, and drive cars, just to name a few. Then there are the more complex features of the human experience, such as our exceptionally high level of self-awareness, our ability to imagine our lives at various points in the future, and our capacity to ponder our eventual death. Humanity is a word that describes the human collective, but it also signifies something greater. Humans wear pants and carry keys, but humanity encompasses grand virtues such as compassion, kindness, and morality. It’s the quality of being humane, and having a generous disposition toward other people and living beings. Pelin Kesebir, a scientist at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, says humanity is about being a good human. And it’s measured in how well we treat …
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