Welcome to Part B of the On Being Human series. As you will have read in the introduction to Part A, this topic came around while thinking about subjects for future blog posts, when I decided to ask both the ChatGPT AI and the CoPilot AI to list 25 thought-provoking questions about being human and the human condition. Both came up with many good questions. Of the total 50 questions, 18 pairs were similar, 32 were unique. When I asked CoPilot to identify the differences between the lists it stated that “the main differences between the two lists are the specific questions they address. While both lists explore deep philosophical questions about human nature, identity, and experience, they do so from slightly different angles and with different emphases. For example, List 1 (ChatGPT) includes questions about the inherent goodness or evilness of human nature, the role of suffering, and the quest for knowledge and innovation. In contrast, List 2 (CoPilot) includes questions about the impact of technology, the nature of free will, and the importance of storytelling.” I have decided to answer the 25 questions I like best and answer 12 within the last blog post, and 13 in this blog post.
Let’s move on now to remaining questions.
13.
How do we define and seek happiness? (CoPilot)
Happiness is what makes us feel good, oh baby, oh baby! 😊 Although my original though was in the gutter, the place I live, LOL, it is pretty accurate, wouldn’t you say. Who doesn’t like to feel good!? So why wouldn’t you look for ways to make that happen and to ensure it is more than just a fleeting moment in time and space. I suppose one could say that people seek happiness in many ways, some healthy, some perhaps not so healthy. If I look at myself as an example, I will say that how I would define and go about seeking happiness has changed over the course of my life. It has evolved and grown as my wisdom has. In my late teens and very early twenties, I wanted to fit in and hung around with a crowd that drank and partied, that clubbed and smoked dope on occasion. Although doing so at the time felt like a good way to belong, it really just stunted any growth I might have found in a healthier way. Did it make me happy? Not really, even though that was the perceived goal. In fact, I was a weepy drunk, and the more I drank, the more I hated myself, and my lot in life. As I began recovery and my deep look at life and the human condition, I came to find that I was the happiest when I was travelling this road to awareness, the road that led me to know what real happiness was/is. As it turned out, my happiness is found in the quiet simple life. Maintaining a quiet stillness, while still exploring the depths of humanity, or my own spiritual depths, as it were. I do this through my art, my writing, and my connection with the few close individuals I have in my life, while acknowledging that a whole larger world exists, a whole cosmic dance that binds us all together. In the end, I think that it is what makes us feel good, that makes us happy, and we seek it because it does feel good. I know I stated that at the beginning of this answer, but I think it was worth restating it.
I think too, that happiness and its pursuit is a very human trait, part of what makes us human through conscious awareness. Because plants and other animals do not have this conscious awareness, that I know of, it is just one more thing that makes us unique in this world. A blessing, a gift of mega proportions.
14.
How do shared stories and myths define human culture? (ChatGPT)
What is the importance of storytelling in human culture? (CoPilot)
Storytelling, through myths or fables, or even oral family histories seems to do at least two things. First of all, it teaches lessons for living in a way that others might listen to. As any parent will know, we can’t teach our children by preaching to them, as they will likely do the opposite. If, however, we tell them a story, they might pick up the gist of the lesson and may even find it shapes their own thinking in some way, even unconsciously. Secondly, storytelling is a way to connect cultures and people through the ages. Many stories from the past show a common experience, or truth, or lesson, that is human in nature and resonates with listeners, whether or not they are from the same era or culture. Take for instance the story of the great flood. As CoPilot reminded me when I asked for cultural connections, the story of a great flood is found in many cultures. Apart from the biblical story of Noah, there are similar tales in Mesopotamian mythology (Epic of Gilgamesh), Hindu mythology (Manu’s tale in the Satapatha Brahmana), and Greek mythology (Deucalion and Pyrrha). There are many other stories that cross time and culture, so as I said, it links us to our past, and I assume will link us to the future as the stories continue to get told.
Somewhere in one of my blog posts I mentioned Darmok, (S5.E2) the episode of Star Trek: TNG where the captain is transported down to a planet with an alien so they can have a shared experience fighting a common foe. Although they can hear each other communicate, the translations from the alien, although now English, made no sense, since the alien spoke in metaphor. In other words, he told stories from the past to answer questions, to communicate. Because Captain Picard was not privy to the alien’s cultural stories and myths, there was no way for him to ever understand the alien, not without first learning the alien’s full history which might take years if it could even be done. At any rate, Captain Picard figured out what was happening, communication-wise, and developed a relationship with the alien by telling one of Earth’s stories from the past, that of Gilgamesh. Captain Picard knew the alien would not understand the substance, but knew and saw, that the alien resonated with the shared experience through the storytelling. It was a bonding, and it was quite beautiful to see. The point is that the writers of Star Trek: TNG, and others of this era, are still sharing these stories, like Gilgamesh, to this day. They are told to make a point, to teach us lessons. They are as effective now as they were then. Transcending time.
15.
What responsibilities do humans have toward one another and the planet? (ChatGPT)
How do we balance self-interest with the common good? (CoPilot)
We have only one, mostly finite, planet as our home. This planet, our beloved Earth, has limited resources that we must not squander. Because humans are conscious beings, and have a great depth to them, can even learn from the past, and can even speculate on the future, they can, and do, take into account how their actions will affect the planet and future generations. Because we have this conscious awareness, we do have the responsibility to use that in ways that are life giving rather than life snuffing. As I have mentioned while answering other questions, I believe that humans are generally good and caring for the most part. As also mentioned, we can veer off that path if we let ego and other such things get in the way, but there are enough good ones at any given time that they can get us back on track.
We balance our self-interest with the common good, hopefully by being aware of the pros and cons of all we do, and allowing that to help us make better decisions, ones that effectively provide for a sustainable existence for those yet to come. Because humans tend toward procreation and have a natural instinct to care and provide for their offspring, I believe this plays a key role in why many of us care enough how we treat the Earth. We want to ensure there is a place for them in their future.
Yes, there are also a lot of people and organizations that seem hell bent on taking all they can, without regard for anything but the here and now, but I think they are outnumbered by those who are more social and caring. Somehow, the more social and caring seem to be able to sway whole populations to step back and learn from such things. Sometimes things sway too far back like a pendulum, but eventually they start to settle in a better middle way. Just think about all the things that have changed over time, all for the better. Things like homosexuality, once a taboo thing, now accepted by the masses as one of the many human states of being. How about the use of coal and oil for all things powered. Although we have perhaps not come far enough, we are at least looking seriously at the ramifications of what it is doing, and using in many cases, alternate less resource-depleting things to power our world. I am sure you can think of many more things, just as I can. The point is that we can and do learn – and will make the changes necessary to ensure we are not amongst those named extinct along the cosmic timeline.
16.
How does memory shape our sense of self? (ChatGPT)
How do our memories shape our present and future? (CoPilot)
Just burn your finger on a hot stove element and you will have a pretty good idea from that point on that doing so is not necessarily a good idea. 😊 In other words, we learn from the memory of the pain, and that shapes how we will approach the stove, and cooking, in the future. It might even be a good reminder to respect fire, or excess heat, in all areas of our life. Of course, this is just one aspect of the question posed. Or is it, instead, the whole point!?
We obviously have the ability to learn, so all experience plays a crucial role in determining how that shapes us and directs us moving forward. Let me use myself again as an example and share an experience that taught me well. I am sure I have mentioned this in other blog posts or in my memoirs, but I think it is worth repeating. I have mentioned how one of my family traits was living in fear. I have also mentioned that my family has overcome this in their own ways. For me, when a change is coming, I tend to get anxious and run through endless scenarios in my mind, usually with the negative being most prominent. Through my life experiences I have come to realize that all changes that have come to be, have always been for the best, even when I could envision only the worst outcome while heading in. By reflecting on this whole business, I am now able to move toward change with far less anxiety, since my memory of all the good that came from change, often even better than I could ever imagine, proved, or at least strongly suggested that I don’t need to fear. I mean, why would this time be any different. If you recall, in my blog post called Alphabet Psyche Test I mentioned a financial change that was coming and how I feared that I was going to be screwed. While dealing with the powers that be about this, I was well into that feeling of being screwed, but instead of just taking what scraps I felt were being offered, I made a point to express my disappointment. Because I made my feelings known, the powers that be came back with a couple other options, one of which was suitable to me and what I had initially thought would be reasonable. Here again, I am reminded that I can manage change without the anxiety and fear, and I can even advocate on my own behalf. Proof again that things will likely turn out better than I can imagine. Why can’t I remember all this before I get anxious, who can say. Perhaps I am a slow learner, like so many of us are.
These days, for the most part, I am able to remember the positive aspects and put this into practice as change continues and always will. Even if I am not perfect at a applying this thinking, based on the memories of past trials, I am able to do it more and more with each change that comes. Progress, not perfection is the goal, as they say. Does this answer the original questions? I think so, in a round-about way at least. That’s the hope anyway.
Photo Intermission.
Berry Barn Restaurant & Giftshop (July 31, 2024) – Photo by Don Cheke
17.
Is human progress inevitable or dependent on specific conditions? (ChatGPT)
That’s a very good question! I think human progress is dependent on its members, or at least a great many of them, having their basic needs first met. If a human is fed and housed sufficiently, then the human mind is freer to expand and ponder deeper and farther. We are a curious lot, and when we have the space to do that expanding and pondering, we will. It is at these times, while creating art, or pondering what might make life better that we can dedicate more of what we have, and are, into these possibilities that we dream up. Keep a human hungry, cold, and scared, and they can’t possibly have anything extra to give to do anything more than surviving. I think we humans still have a long way to ensure that all humans have a sufficient amount of the basics, but when we finally manage to do this, we will have another bounty of human imagination to propel us even farther, to unimaginable levels.
18.
How do power and inequality impact the human experience? (ChatGPT)
How does power affect human behavior? (CoPilot)
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This is attributed to Lord Acton, a British historian and moralist. He apparently wrote it in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. Don’t get me started on someone with the attribute of Lord. Oy! And just to show you again how weird I am, I wondered if the bishop was related to Howie “Mandel” when I read his middle name. Get it!? 😊
What a trip one can have when they acquire power and fame, as we have seen from many who achieve such levels. I often think of this as a type of God complex where the individual gets so powerful and famous that they start to see themselves in such a light, and act accordingly, like they are above us mere mortals. It takes a very unique and morally stable person to be put in such a powerful place and remain grounded on all levels. I wonder if it is even possible, since most spiritually travelers realize that it is more conducive to the spiritual life to remain unknown, or at least not afraid to be unknown. Still, we need leaders in our society to help motivate and lead by example to help those less capable souls achieve something, a better life, I guess.
Too often, the people attracted to power and fame are basically looking for that as a means to an end, for their own benefit. Perhaps our political systems should surprise us and pick someone who is not running to be our presidents or prime ministers. Wouldn’t that be great, you receive a letter one day that says that you were the topic of discussion, and because you have so many humane and other awe-inspiring qualities, you are now the prime minister of Canada, or something similar in your neck of the woods. Just be yourself, and your appointment will run its typical 4-year term.
19.
What is the significance of love in human life? (ChatGPT)
What is the role of love in human life? (CoPilot)
Love is the cement that binds. Love keeps us from being alone in a big scary world. Being loved, and giving love, seems so uniquely human in its conscious application. Perhaps all animals are capable of love, but it is only with the human being that it is something that can be consciously chosen. Perhaps it can and does flow naturally, but as any member in a long-term relationship can attest to, true love can require effort and a conscious decision to do so, especially at times when we don’t feel particularly loving, or perhaps even when we are mad at our partner for one reason or another. At the root of love is giving, so we tend to give to those we love, be it our time, our compassion, and support in all of its manifestations, often including financially, as it is with married couples who combine their resources in a joint account type of setting.
Love gives meaning and purpose to life. Without love one would be alone, and I suspect would deteriorate mentally and physically. Love fills our soul; it enlivens us to a level that we ourselves have an abundance that we can then share with others. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy or a perpetual fountain that gives life. I don’t know if that made sense to anyone but me, but gosh, love is so hard to define, but I sure know it when I see it, or feel it, as it were. Did you notice how much I like to say, as it were? Crazy huh!? I like it though. 😊
20.
How do humans reconcile individuality with the need for community? (ChatGPT)
How do we reconcile the need for individuality with the desire to belong? (CoPilot)
For a time, I used to say that I like people as a concept. These days, or for the last good stretch of time, I am not sure I like people at all. 😊 Let me just say that you should take that last bit with a grain of salt. This is going to be hard to explain, but let me try by saying that I actually like many people one on one, when I can get to know them and see that they are not part of the “sheep” out there that follow or believe all the garbage that is spewed through the news media and other devices that promote and accept the darker side of humanity. Think about the paparazzi in England and other countries that thrive and live to expose whatever dirty little secrets they can uncover, all with the intent of selling papers, all the while dirtying the human race with their disregard for all that is good. There are so many other examples that show a behavior that is similar, where we are left thinking that the world is dirty and where the masses lap up their 2 minutes of hate everyday while gathered around the inescapable telescreens that their faces are glued to. If you are familiar with George Orwell’s book, 1984, you will see the connection, and why I think we live perpetually in 1984. I needed confirmation of the time spent in 1984 with regards to the “hate” business, so I asked CoPilot. I liked what it wrote and decided to add it here.
Don:
In the book 1984 people were required to attend daily meetings for their “10 minutes of hate.” Is that what it was called and is that the correct amount of time?
CoPilot:
You’re close—it’s actually called the “Two Minutes Hate” in George Orwell’s 1984. Every day, citizens are required to gather and immerse themselves in a frenzied outpouring of anger and contempt towards the state’s enemies. In just two intense minutes, they’re swept up in a wave of collective emotion, all carefully orchestrated by the Party to reinforce loyalty and suppress individual thought.
It’s wild to think how such a brief ritual can deeply influence people’s minds, right? Orwell brilliantly illustrates how totalitarian regimes manipulate emotions to maintain control. By directing people’s fears and frustrations outward, the Party prevents them from questioning the oppressive world they live in.
It kind of makes you wonder about today’s society. With the constant barrage of news and social media, it’s easy to get caught up in moments of collective outrage or hype. Do you ever feel like we’re experiencing our own versions of the “Two Minutes Hate” through viral content that sparks intense, but fleeting, reactions?
Exploring these parallels can be eye-opening. It prompts us to think critically about the information we consume and how it shapes our perceptions. What do you think about the impact of media on our emotions and beliefs?
I know that the above did not answer the questions directly, but it kind of set the stage for what I am about to say. I believe that humans are social beings, therefore flock to and embrace community, whatever that might look like at the time. For those who are somewhat lost, or fragile, or just less confident, the need to belong to a community can become a speedbump on the road of life. These individuals might wear a mask, might be someone they are not, just to belong. I am reminded of my high school years where I became part of a “friend” group. We came together because we had a bond by working part-time for a large national business that had many outlets in the city. Although we worked at different stores, the common bond brought us together as friends at school and after hours. I really didn’t like these guys, but they accepted me, and because they were seen as the tougher crowd in school, I felt safe among them. They often did things I didn’t approve of and somehow, I was able to escape being part of that aspect. Perhaps they sensed I was different, so I was never asked to join in those things. I did participate in the beer drinking and the occasional toke of a joint, as well as skipping school to go for coffee instead, far more often that was socially acceptable. Whatever the case, that seemed to tie me to them in some respect. Reflecting back, I might have faired better if I had joined a different group, but who can say.
I am a true introvert, and I love my time alone. It is by being alone, and engaging with my music, my art, and my writing where I am recharged, and find fulfillment enough so that I can participate in the community in the limited way I choose. Extroverts are the opposite. Like my mother, they recharge by being with people, by being busy in their community. I am not even sure if the extrovert likes being alone. Perhaps it is too quiet for them to be alone.
I think that we reconcile the differences by becoming aware and hopefully choose to live a good and healthy life, one that weighs all the factors, one that allows one to know themself, so that one can find peace being who they are and can participate in the community in a way that suits their own needs. We are a big enough world that we can decide on how big, or how little, our community is. It’s part of the freedom we are blessed to have. Engaged, but not falsely engaged by staying in 1984.
Geez Don, if you keep making your answers that long, we’ll be here forever! 😊
Photo Intermission.
Church at Batoche, SK (August 20, 2024) – Photo by Don Cheke
21.
Why do humans create art, and what does it reveal about our nature? (ChatGPT)
What drives humans to create art and express themselves? (CoPilot)
Art, one of my favorite topics! To get right to the point I’d say that humans create art to express themselves. They also do it to decorate their surroundings, and some do it to make money, perhaps a combination of all. Because so much cannot be expressed in words, people have found a way to do so through their art, be it drawing, painting, dancing, acting, through music, and so forth. Art predates the spoken word, and perhaps that is when humans discovered that so much could be said in artistic form, and as a viewer so much gleaned, like looking into the soul of the universe.
Art is also a means to capture the essence of something, a place, an activity, an experience. It is also a means to tell a story. I remember a time when Denise and I traveled to St. Peter’s Abbey, near Muenster, SK. The church was having some renovations done, perhaps only a fresh coat of paint. As we looked around, we came across large plaster cast (I assume) sculptures that depicted the stations of the cross. They were very large and painted beautifully. I remember being very impressed by them, and at how they were just placed randomly on the floor, resting against the walls in the back room of the church. Today, as I write this, I am reminded of just how much humans will put into something that could have been told in a much simpler way, even just text on a page. But here we see that the amount of work and dedication and probably money, that went into making these sculptures is astounding. This, of course, is just one isolated example, but a potent one, indeed.
Have you ever noticed that nobody ever really throws art away? It is coveted and displayed as the unique piece of the world it speaks about. When it is famous art, it is often felt to be, or present, a piece of the artist him/herself.
Being creative has been my lifeblood, in a sense. Being creative allows me to step outside of my busy, sometimes crazy head space, the squirrel cage I mentioned in a previous blog post. Drawing or painting, sculpting or delving deep through my writing, allows me to experience things on an alternate plane of sorts, a level that provides access into the soul. It is often surprising what comes out when I allow my unconscious mind to drive the creative process. It is also mind-blowing to see what others produce and how it can move a whole world.
I would have loved to share some examples here, but I will keep that for another blog post down the line.
22.
Can humans ever fully understand themselves? (ChatGPT)
What does it mean to truly understand another person? (CoPilot)
I believe a human can come a long way in understanding themselves, and by extension, others as well. It takes a lot of work to get there, but by taking a deep look, often with the help of others, via their shared writings, or with a counsellor, we can begin to understand the “nuances of I,” as I will call it here, since it sounds so ethereal. 😊 We can discover why we behave the way we do, what baggage we carry. We can discover what motivates us, what drives us, and what keeps us locked or paralysed at times. I have often said that awareness is the key to life. By becoming aware, we can see all these things more clearly, and then take steps to address our shortcomings, or defects of character. We can also see that we are capable of change and can do so with the knowledge acquired by putting in the effort.
I mentioned earlier that we can understand others by extension. Although we may never understand the true nature of another’s struggles or journey, we can know that they too are human and will undoubtedly have similar struggles and similar goals. In this way, we can empathize, and that goes a long way into understanding them. It also allows us to have compassion for others, since we know the true nature of being human. We are more fully alive and able to see through the fog that can be so prevalent in today’s world.
23.
How do humans cope with existential uncertainty? (ChatGPT)
How do humans cope with change and uncertainty? (CoPilot)
Too funny! Some drink; some do drugs. Some avoid looking inward at all costs. Some bulldoze their way through life, amassing wealth and chasing illusions. Some turn inward and bury their heads in the sand. That is a sad truth, and many are affected in one or more of these ways.
Others, who know that life is difficult and something we can never fully comprehend in all its manifest ways, know that a journey toward truth and understanding is well worth the effort they put in. Quite often, the journey brings up more questions than answers, but even then, one has asked the questions and inevitably learned something important, one of those “Threads of the Spirit” I wrote about in my book with the same title. Moving forward and experiencing these threads allows us to live with uncertainty and the inevitability of change.
I have tried both methods, checking out, and checking in, and I must say that checking in, and taking the journey, the road less traveled, has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience. It has allowed me to be somewhat in control as opposed to just blindly following a less enlightening path.
24.
What makes human life valuable and meaningful? (ChatGPT)
What does it mean to live a fulfilling life? (CoPilot)
All gifts are valuable in one way or another. Life is a gift and, as such, is valuable. To squander it, is to show great disrespect to the universe. I am always so amazed at how random a chance it was/is that I/we are here at all. One small change, however insignificant, might be the difference of us being born, or not, as the case may be.
To me, living a fulfilling life, means that what I am doing, and experiencing, makes me happy, but also makes those in my circle happy, either by extension, or by my direct actions. I make their life better by me being in it, and me in theirs. Living a fulfilling life, also means that I have purpose and know to some degree that what I am doing is important on some scale. It doesn’t even have to be on a grand scale, but certainly on a scale that affects the community I am part of. That what I do benefits that community. My efforts enhance their lives even in some small way.
25.
How do humans handle the tension between fate and personal agency? (ChatGPT)
This question feels too much like something I have answered before. With this blog post having become so long, I think I will bypass #25 and wrap up with a few closing comments.
Here are the remaining 7 questions that I did not take time to answer. See if they move you enough to want to answer them yourself, or all the others asked previously.
How do we balance progress with ethical considerations? (CoPilot)
How do humans balance reason and emotion in decision-making? (ChatGPT)
What drives humanity’s constant quest for knowledge and innovation? (ChatGPT)
How do our beliefs influence our actions? (CoPilot)
How do we perceive and judge morality? (CoPilot)
How does socialization shape our identities? (CoPilot)
What is the impact of solitude on the human mind? (CoPilot)
Although I have asked many of these same questions at different times in my life, it was still a fun project to answer them here on the fly, as I did in this blog post and the previous one. I think it is important for all people to ask themselves these types of questions to get a feel for what one really believes, and how one might use those beliefs to better oneself and to participate in society in the best way possible. Sure, its easy to never ask oneself these types of questions, but I think that the effort put into exploring these things can offer one a greater sense of purpose and direction.
I also realized that every one of these questions could have a been a blog post unto itself. Yep, it’s true, I could have stretched it out for 25 weeks, but I think that would have been too much for my readers to stay tuned. Anyway, I have all kinds of other stuff I want to write about, some related to art, some related to the finer points of being human.
Just as a final note, I believe that in all of this, I ended up thinking that, perhaps, CoPilot, as opposed to ChatGPT, has a more humanist view which shows in its questions and its answers when asked via its various interface channels. I’ll have to pay closer attention to this as I move forward using it when needed. I wonder how that will affect users who gravitate toward one or the other AI. A topic for another discussion, I would say.
Donald B. Cheke – February 10, 2025