Practicing Your Humanity

The innate goodness we can bring to others can wither if we don't use it

Humanity is a word that describes the human collective, but it also signifies something greater. YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

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.