To Be Human

 What does it mean to be human? On the surface it doesn't seem like a very complex question. Clearly there are major differences between us and the rest of the animal kingdom. We have opposable thumbs coupled with fine motor skills that help us manipulate our environments, elaborate languages and ways of communicating measurement such as math and science, the ability to understand the past, present, and future, aesthetic appreciation of art, and technological capabilities all make the differences a stark contrast. In my mind, however, everything I brought up are mere branches of a trunk that serves as the core of everything else. The core that I speak of is consciousness. 
All living things have consciousness to some degree. Even early micro-organisms had a basic environmental consciousness that told them to swim to the surface of the ocean for sunlight in order to photosynthesize, and to dive down deeper when it became too hot. Human consciousness, on the other hand, is far and beyond any other known creature on this planet, in that we are conscious of our internal and external existence, and understand the concept of our own mortality. Human beings are capable of realizing that the self exists, that we are more than mere biological meat robots programmed by instinct to play a specific role in the natural order of things. We have surpassed the primal expectancy of our race time and time again, pushing the envelope of our own evolution, and proving that the destiny of humanity is in our own hands. No animal, plant, or any other living form in this world even comes close to the level of awareness that our species have achieved. Even those with autism or who are mentally disabled are often times proven to have above normal cognitive functions and the only issues are cross-firing signals in the synapses of the brain. Without that human level consciousness, our bodies, our brains, everything that makes up the physical aspects of our being is but a shell; a purely natural manifestation of bio material sculpted by time, evolution, and the plausible influences of various other factors. 

I hypothesize that consciousness can be equivalent to the differing concepts found around the world for spirit and energy, such as the western view of the soul, the Hindu belief of Chakra, the Chinese traditionl understanding of Qi, and the Shinto vision of Kami; all can be directly related to the modern scientific understanding of human consciousness. And, although we have learned much in regards to our own awareness, that is not to say we know everything about it yet. In fact, many scientists and psychologists believe we have only scratched the surface of understanding that part of all of us that makes us more than animals. A few questions I would like to see established are: At what point does human level consciousness develop or enter the body in utero? Does consciousness continue after death, or does it extinguish like a flame? Can the same consciousness return if, hypothetically, the physical body were to be perfectly reformed? 
Many religions throughout the world believe in some form of spiritual extra-physical existence, including the religion to which I belong. And though I am not saying that it isn't correct, I myself hold to a hope that consciousness does exist separately to the currently held understanding of physiology, I also believe that empirical evidence is a way to firmly establish belief in the material world. I support any and all attempts to objectively find the source to consciousness and, though I am sure we will stumble across many a false trail and dead end in the pursuit, I have faith that we will eventually find the answers to these and many other questions that will clarify the most intrinsic aspect within all of us: What is it that makes us human?