Prologue

Human. It's a concept I've always found fascinating - funny even. We give it a definition in the dictionary, as if we might not know what it means, as if it needs defining. As if it is not the very thing that we are. And yet, there are many definitions - often in the same dictionary. How can it be that even our very existence, the thing that makes us all the same, differs depending on who you ask;

Human. Characterised by sympathy with, and consideration for, others.

Human. Characterised by their bipedalism and high intelligence.

Human. Defined as having abilities and activities which differs from supernatural's - mundane, worldly, imperfect.

To aggravate my point further I'm not sure I agree with any of those definitions.

I have seen humans treat others in ways which would make you physically sick. Consideration for others is not universal. Consideration for others is very much conditional on who the 'other' is.

I have heard humans verbalise some of the stupidest ideas possible, and be praised for their 'problem solving attitudes'. High intelligence seems to be a title given to others, by those with no intelligence themselves.

Imperfect. The only thing I don't disagree with. Humans are imperfect. That's it, that's the definition of a human. Imperfect. However, it's more than that. The one thing these definitions are missing is the unavoidable truth of being human. It ends.

Human. Imperfect and temporary.