Defending Traditional Marriage

[clem456]

Specifically a member of Homo sapiens, though I could happily extend it to any member of genus Homo

That’s a good definition.
But in real terms, what does it mean to be human? Why do we say human “being”?
Would you agree that in addition to human beings having defining characteristics, one of which you define above, to be human means “to be”?

Does a human being exist?
I am asking a rhetorical question. Only an insane person would dispute a human has being, so bear with me. A human being* is*, we objectively have a physical presence, and an inner unseen aspect, that are united as one human being. As an atheist you might dispute that we have “souls”, no problem. Another discussion for another day.

1. If the reality is that humans have being or existence, how do we come “to be”?
   How is our physical form ordered to the reality of our existence. (the dna you reference above helps define humanity, but it doesn’t really explain how we exist. One of the big questions human beings ask themselves is, how and why am I here, where did I come from, where am I going…)
2. How is our behavior ordered to the reality of our being?

To jump ahead, your referenced “human behavior”. If you do not think human behavior is ordered to human existence, then murder is permissible, negligence of the hungry is permissible, any behavior that does not promote the existence of humanity is permissible if behavior is not ordered thus.