What It Means to Be Human

A science-based view of consciousness and the seven human dimensions.

Infographic showing seven icons—Senses, Pain, Emotion, Belief, Sexuality, Power/Control, Mortality—pointing to a central brain labeled Consciousness.
📄 Read the Paper (PDF) 🔎 Overview

Consciousness

Brain-based awareness integrating senses, memory, emotion, and belief into the experience of “I”.

Senses

Vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste—our gateways for perceiving reality and forming memories.

Pain

An adaptive alarm—physical or emotional—that protects, teaches, and forges resilience.

Emotion

The pulse of experience. Emotions guide decisions, bonding, and creativity.

Belief

Religious or secular frameworks that organize meaning and social life—powerful, though not empirical.

Sexuality

From reproduction to intimacy and identity—linking biology with culture.

Power / Control

A minority seek control; the majority follow. This polarity shapes institutions and history.

Mortality

Awareness of finitude that drives urgency, compassion, legacy, and meaning.