We’ve thoroughly discussed, albeit without conclusion, what it means to be human. I think this is the wrong conversation to have because we cannot identify what it means to be a fully-autonomous human being while also not differentiating between species. Yes, we are considered the most advanced of the known species on Earth, yet, we do not have inherent qualities that are different to most all species. What I mean to say is, humans, share a multitude of qualities with other species, and “being human” is not much more special than “being a dog”.

 

In “Jerry Was a Man” we see an emphasis placed on the importance of being human. This short story and “Dolphin’s Way” satirize the notion of humans inherently believing they are the most advanced species. The very primal human quality of wanting to be the best, aka the “top dog”, is something emphasized in both of the readings. Jerry’s life is appraised in relation to a human life because historically, humans and their advancements have considered themselves the threshold and baseline for which comparisons should be made. Why? Hominids challenges this idea very well. In the Neanderthals’ universe, when somebody commits murder, that individual and others who share their DNA are sterilized to prevent the “murder” gene from advancing. To me, this fascinating in terms of sf literature (even though there is some suspension of disbelief) because it shows that a society both dominated by non-humans and is technologically savvy can enforce rules that allow positive results and “togetherness” rather than perpetuating systems that seem to not do its job too well, such as our mental health and prison systems.

 

Perhaps it is the extra nuances, such as greed, or the yearning for absolute power that makes humans detachable from other species. These innate and negative qualities, that we have discussed in class have hindered social progress and scientific advancements that other species could have made if they were the “Master race”, per say. Sf literature in this module has proven that other species could very well have made the same, or even more, advancements than we have. We, as humans, tend to judge, characterize, and box others for being different, rather than try to understand what makes us special to further ourselves and humanity.