Transcriber: Lauryn Tran Reviewer: David DeRuwe
A sleek grey manta ray,
bursting through the water asking for a head scratch.
A young monkey hugging his mother before chasing after his brother.
A Kenyan architecture student giving a gift to a stranger from afar.
A homeless dog traversing the grand steps of Teotihuacan,
searching for food.
A group of friends: German, Dutch, American, and Danish
traveling an unfamiliar land.
What do these things have in common?
And no, I’m not just showing off my travels.
There really is a connection - these are all living things.
More importantly, though, all of these living things can be described as human.
And now I know what you’re thinking.
First of all, I’m wrong,
and second of all, I should just stop talking.
But trust me.
Have you ever noticed when a dolphin laughs or a crow paints a picture,
we describe their actions as human-like,
as if they are temporarily borrowing a skill from us.
Humanity.
This isn’t something held by any one creature.
Rather, it is an idea,
but what is this idea exactly?
If something different than you or me can be attributed that title,
then what does it mean for something to have humanity?
What is humanity?
When we accept animals and other beings into the definition of humanity,
it allows us to break it down into its most basic and fundamental parts.
If we can claim that less intelligent beings
who behave and look differently than us can still exhibit humanity,
then we must also conclude that shared values are the key.
In other words, there are major differences between people and animals,
but the thing that connects us is humanity.
This overlap can give away the true definition of humanity.
Humanity is intelligence.
Humanity is compassion.
Humanity is good.
There’s a story, a true story, about a gorilla named Koko.
Koko was a very intelligent gorilla that, according to National Geographic,
knew 1000 signs and 2000 English words.
Koko even had a beloved cat she named “All Ball.”
One time, Koko ripped a gorilla-sized metal sink
out of the wall of her home.
When her handler asked her, “What happened?”
Koko signed, “Cat did it.”
(Laughter)
This intelligence and ability is something that we can only describe as human.
We value intelligence and creativity very highly.
It’s what made us the dominant species on our planet.
It’s what makes us special.
When this intelligence is observed in other species,
we say they are acting human.
We say the most impressive feats we observe in others
is a reflection of their inner humanity.
We want the very association of us to be the very best in others.
We don't choose violence and savagery,
even though we are very good at those things.
When a snake constricts a small mammal
or a killer whale brutally assaults a tired seal,
we distance ourselves from these actions by saying they lack humanity.
They are barbaric and cruel.
But when a raccoon solves a puzzle or a parrot says goodnight,
we claim their actions as our own.
We only accept those actions,
which are most exceptional and breathtaking as human.
This is deeply revealing. We see in others what we want to see in ourselves.
We want our species to be defined by our intelligence and our achievement,
not by our shortcomings.
Some of our greatest achievements have been the most unifying:
landing on the moon, developing medicines and vaccines,
creating a global community.
Only people have achieved these things.
The collective human race can be proud of this.
There are very intelligent animals, and maybe one day in the far, far future,
they can advance to be more like us.
For now, though, the unique intelligence that we people have
is what makes us special.
When even a fraction of our intelligence is mirrored in other beings like Koko,
we say they have humanity.
We’re proud of it. And we should be.
Intelligence is very important,
but the level of intelligence, even just within people,
is extremely varied as you can see.
(Laughter)
Ahem, that is a joke.
(Laughter)
So intelligence is important,
but I don’t think that’s the full answer to this question: What is humanity?
The puzzle of what a human is remains incomplete.
I believe that compassion is what makes something human.
We want so badly for the definition of humanity to be good.
Merriam-Webster literally defines it as compassionate, sympathetic,
or generous behavior or disposition: the quality or state of being humane.
That’s a lot of positive words.
We have decided that in order for someone to be described as human,
they must be good; otherwise, they are something else.
How can something be human if they have no humanity?
That's like pepperoni pizza without pepperoni.
That’s just ... that’s just cheese.
(Laughter)
And speaking of atrocities,
when an atrocity is committed, an unjust attack against another,
we say that is inhumane.
When evil is committed by people and animals,
we say they are inhuman.
By definition,
it is impossible for something or someone to be evil and have humanity.
We praise compassion observed in both people and animals.
Every time we show compassion, we are elevating humanity.
Every time we tell the truth, lend a hand, show kindness, or sacrifice for others,
we are restoring and strengthening humanity.
There are countless stories of compassion that warm our hearts.
A goose that finds a wet puppy in the rain
and wraps its wings around it to keep it warm through the night.
A team of people remaining in Afghanistan,
putting their own lives at risk to stay with the homeless animals they've rescued.
Volunteers sifting through rubble,
expanding their own time and resources
to help others through earthquakes and floods.
Helping others through hardship is called humanitarian work.
Being compassionate is synonymous with being human.
We want our lives to be better.
This is achieved through advancement and by helping others.
Intelligence and compassion are the greatest things we observe in others,
and what we find best about ourselves - we want people to be this way.
There are evil people in the world, but I think we focus on them too much.
They are the ones with the least humanity.
The violent animals are the ones with the least humanity.
Only by striving to be good can we truly become human.
We want to be better.
We want to be more intelligent, more compassionate, more human.
Our species is still coming of age, still discovering itself.
We have a lot more growing to do, but we can be great.
The last century was a period of death, war, injustice, and hate.
Since then, according to the World Bank,
the worldwide poverty level is lower than ever before.
Although there is still violence,
the world is working together to end conflict
and combat human rights violations.
Our innovation and charity has made the world better step by step.
We can continue to make it better -
better for all humans, better for all animals,
better for all humanity.
Just one small step can lead down the path to greatness.
It’s our calling.
We can overcome the dark of ages past.
We can begin again for the greater good.
If we just hold on a little while longer, everything will be all right.
It may sound silly, but I think that we should take a pledge,
a pledge to be human, what a human should be.
Every day we can challenge ourselves to be better than we were before.
We can learn. We can create. We can show kindness and love.
I really don’t think that anyone
would argue more compassion in the world would be a bad thing.
We are more unified and connected than we realize.
When I say we, I mean, all of us.
All of the dolphins, dogs, monkeys, crows,
androids, and people too.
I’m adding in that part about the androids,
just in case robots decide to rise up one day.
(Laughter)
I’m playing the long game.
(Laughter)
We are all human in one way or another.
Whenever we harm someone else, we are harming ourselves,
but when we love one another, we love ourselves.
We are intelligent. We are compassionate. We are good.
I am sincerely asking you to help me.
What can you do to make the world better today, tomorrow, the day after?
We are human and I know the answer:
To be human ...
is to be good.
Thank you.
(Applause)