Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
November 5, 2008
Humanity vs. Constructs
Throughout Lilith’s Brood the question of what it means to be human is brought up many times. One of the most prominent examples is brought up with Akin. A child who looks remarkably human but, still has features of the Oankali such as a photographic memory and extremely advanced sensory organs. All of these changes create a being which is inhuman. These beings like Akin are not human and these differences are much like the ones Bill McKibben feared in “Enough”. These new creatures are not human just like our distant ancestors who were more primitive than us.
Even though Akin was born of a human woman there are many things that separate him from actually being one. Major physical differences include his long, gray tongue which he is able to use to look at the cellular structure of another organism and the spots on his back which sensory tentacles will grow out of. These nonhuman physical characteristics enable him to do many things that humans can not without the assistance of tools such as microscopes or computers. The differences he has with humans are not limited to physical ones, he also has personality differences. Akin is a non-violent creature who finds it hard to lie. This is unlike the personality of humans who have a history of violence which is evident throughout the story and in real life. Humans also feel the need to lie about many of the things that go on in their life. Akin was unable to even understand humans and the why they did many of the things that they did. The fact that he could not even manage to understand human nature illustrates that he is not human.
This creature who is beyond human is exactly what Bill McKibben envisioned as the end result of genetic engineering. The changes they have made in the children of humans has created something else that might be better or worse than humans but, is definitely not the same as humans. The flaws of humans are a major part of what makes us actually human. As McKibben said, “It’s the ability to limit ourselves—in Kohak’s words, ‘the recognition that something may be perfectly understandable and yet be wrong’—that makes us unique among the animals.”(208) Without our flaws we can not be human these are apart of us just like being able to speak is apart of us. Humans are supposed to feel tired after running, they should not be able to jump up trees. Humans also are supposed to forget things, the should not be able to remember everything that ever happened in their life. All these changes create a new type of being something that is beyond human.
Whether these new “constructs” are better than humans or worse is another story. The “constructs” have many superior physical characteristics that enable them to do things that humans could only dream of. These traits obviously make them better than humans on the physical level. The mental characteristics such as their inability to lie and their lack of violence are two traits that can be better or worse than those of humans. Akin inability to lie caused much pain and suffering when Tino’s father asked if one of the raiders killed his son. If Akin had been able to lie as easily as most humans know one would have been killed or injured in the fight that followed. Akin’s propensity toward non-violence also cost him. If he was as violent as humans he could have escaped from his captors. Akin has the ability to poison people with his tongue, which he exhibited on a agouti who was in pain after being shot. If Akin had poisoned his captors he would have been able to escape and might have been able to return home. These differences could be viewed as positives since our inclination toward violence and lying has led to much bloodshed but, for Akin they turned out to be negatives. If constructs have superior physical and mental characteristics to humans but, are unable to use these to their advantage then they are not superior to humans. The constructs are humans equals with both having different advantages and disadvantages.
Akin and the other constructs are not human. They lack many of the physical traits and the things that drive humans. Many of the things that they are missing are things that are a part of human nature such as lying and violence, these are two things that help humans survive. The changes the Oankali have made with the offspring of humans has made them something else just like a mule is not considered to be a horse or donkey. This different life form has many qualities which separate it from humans making it unique. This distinctiveness also goes for humans which makes us great creatures in are own right. The changes made make the constructs something no better or worse than humans, simply something different.
2 comments:
Andre,
Your paper answers the question of Akin being human or not very well. However, I have a few suggestions:
Your second paragraph could use a little more specification regarding how Akin isn’t human. Some examples from the book (quotes) would help back up the things you mentioned. I really liked how you talked about at the end of it how Akin couldn’t even understand human nature so therefore he isn’t human. I would focus on that idea for this paragraph and give an example of Akin not understanding something about the humans.
In your paragraph about McKIbbon I think that you could have added something about McKibbon disagreeing with the concept of the constructs to make his opinion on it clearer. I also think that it would be good to add what you think about them here, do you agree with McKibbon? Talk about what McKibbon specifically feared about genetic engineering and compare this to what the resistors fear about the constructs.
Your paragraph on whether or not constructs are better than humans was a little unclear. At the end you finally get to your point that if the constructs are unable to use their traits to their advantages, they are not superior to humans. I would start with this idea and expand it from there. Also, you could mention here all the good things that humans have that the constructs don’t. Perhaps a bigger sense of community among humans or more love or emotion with them; something of that sort.
Overall, a few general things you could consider changing are just making it more clear on whether or not you think that the constructs are of value or not despite your belief that they are inhuman. Also, I particularly liked how you addressed the two traits of humans: lying and violence and one main thing you could improve on is just expanding this idea a little more. You could have given an example of how these two things are part of our human nature rather than just stating it. I think that just specifying a little more on how these two qualities of humans are either good or bad for mankind to have would have cleared things up. Good job with your paper though, I think it has very good ideas overall!
Andre Cedeno
Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
November 5, 2008
Humanity vs. Constructs
Throughout Lilith’s Brood the question of what it means to be human is brought up many times. One of the most prominent examples is brought up with Akin. A child who looks remarkably human but, still has features of the Oankali such as a photographic memory and extremely advanced sensory organs. All of these changes create a being which is inhuman. These beings like Akin are not human and these differences are much like the ones Bill McKibben feared in “Enough”. These new creatures are not human just like our distant ancestors who were more primitive than us.
Even though Akin was born of a human woman there are many things that separate him from actually being one. Major physical differences include his long, gray tongue which he is able to use to look at the cellular structure of another organism and the spots on his back which sensory tentacles will grow out of. These nonhuman physical characteristics enable him to do many things that humans can not without the assistance of tools such as microscopes or computers. The differences he has with humans are not limited to physical ones, he also has personality differences. Akin is a non-violent creature who finds it hard to lie. This is unlike the personality of humans who have a history of violence which is evident throughout the story and in real life. Humans also feel the need to lie about many of the things that go on in their life. Akin was unable to even understand humans and the why they did many of the things that they did. One example of this is when Gabe performed for Akin and afterward Akin said, “‘I like the acting. It scared me at first, and I couldn’t understand a lot of it,’”(409). The fact that he could not even manage to understand human nature illustrates that he is not human.
This creature who is beyond human is exactly what Bill McKibben envisioned as the end result of genetic engineering. The changes they have made in the children of humans has created something else that might be better or worse than humans but, is definitely not the same as humans. The flaws of humans are a major part of what makes us actually human. As McKibben said, “It’s the ability to limit ourselves—in Kohak’s words, ‘the recognition that something may be perfectly understandable and yet be wrong’—that makes us unique among the animals.”(208) Without our flaws we can not be human, these are apart of us just like being able to speak is apart of us. Humans are supposed to feel tired after running, they should not be able to jump up trees. Mckibben refers to running as “an outlet for spirit” and goes on to say, “It’s the personal”(McKibben 7). The constructs find little difficulty in these things humans find physically challenging. They lack these flaws and limitations which help to form the human spirit McKibben discusses. All these changes create a new type of being something that is beyond human.
Whether these new “constructs” are better than humans or worse is another story. The “constructs” have many superior physical characteristics that enable them to do things that humans could only dream of. These traits obviously make them better than humans on the physical level. The mental characteristics such as their inability to lie and their lack of violence are two traits that can be better or worse than those of humans. Akin’s inability to lie caused much pain and suffering when Tino’s father asked if one of the raiders killed his son. If Akin had been able to lie as easily as most humans know one would have been killed or injured in the fight that followed. Akin’s propensity toward non-violence also cost him. If he was as violent as humans he could have escaped from his captors. Akin has the ability to poison people with his tongue, which he exhibited on a agouti who was in pain after being shot. If Akin had poisoned his captors he would have been able to escape and might have been able to return home. These differences could be viewed as positives since our inclination toward violence and lying has led to much bloodshed but, for Akin they turned out to be negatives. For humans these traits can be used as survival techniques, lying in situations that warrant it and resorting to violence when necessary. If constructs have superior physical and mental characteristics to humans but, are unable to use these to their advantage then they are not superior to humans. The constructs are humans equals with both groups having different advantages and disadvantages.
Akin and the other constructs are not human. They lack many of the physical traits and the things that drive humans. Many of the things that they are missing are things that are a part of human nature such as lying and violence, these are two things that help humans survive. The changes the Oankali have made with the offspring of humans has made them something else just like a mule is not considered to be a horse or donkey. This different life form has many qualities which separate it from humans making it unique. This distinctiveness also goes for humans which makes us great creatures in are own right. The changes made make the constructs something no better or worse than humans, simply something different.
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