What makes a human being "human"?

You probably know that, long ago, the people of Sparta in Ancient Greece used to be warriors. They were highly trained in martial arts and strategy since birth. In fact, infants used to be checked for birth defects or weakness, and the "weaklings" who might have compromised the strength and endurance of this race of warriors were hurled from a cliff, to die.

All this probably seems harsh or cruel. Maybe it is cruel to distinguish on the basis of physical strength alone. So, my thought for today is, what if we did the Spartan "weeding out" but with a different characteristic? What if we chose intellect versus stupidity? (Of course, the age at which you can tell these differences changes accordingly.) No, that alone doesn't make a human human either. Or, more fundamentally, goodness versus wilful cruelty? Or meanness of mind versus strength of integrity? Or justice versus consistent injustice?

Then, my ex-advisor might not have existed.

Isn't it somewhat shocking that so many people can exist - and, worse, flourish - even while being sub-par in all the things that really make a Human Being?