531 Monstrosity & Morality: Dividing Lines of the Self and Other, Section 1

[idolpro]

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THE LIBRARY

[libraryofbabel]

You find yourself, very abruptly, in a library, standing on solid ground; the levels go high, and the corridors far; you are quite certain you could get lost in this place. It might go on forever.

A scratching sound of pen on paper catches your notice; there's a woman working at the front desk. Oh, doesn't she look familiar? Hope looks up from the desk, which curiously has the nameplate "Professor"; she pushes her glasses up her nose as you approach, anticipating questions.

From here, there are also labeled hallways to the Computer Center and Writing Lounge; there is also the main hallway that leads to the stacks.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

Comment with updates to this area.

TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[bondsofsuffering]

[Blinking as he comes to. He'll make note of the professor, but first off he's looking around to see if Paula's around at all, too.]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

[ no, she doesn't seem to be here at all. although—the memory of paula has the odd familiarity of someone he has probably seen before. ]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[bondsofsuffering]

[Interesting...

Well, time to chat up the prof! He will raise his hand politely.]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

"Welcome," the professor says, briskly, tapping a stack of papers on her desk. "I'm glad you've finally arrived, since your assignment is due soon. I hope you were paying attention to the material, since I'm expecting a paper on the topic of its meaning. Did you have questions?"

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[counterlighting]

...Hello...

[It's not polite to just jump right into questions, probably. Especially not with complete strangers.]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

"Welcome," the professor says, briskly, tapping a stack of papers on her desk. "I'm glad you've finally arrived, since your assignment is due soon. I hope you were paying attention to the material, since I'm expecting a paper on the topic of its meaning."

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[counterlighting]

[Nyx looks like he's been told he's expected to offer up his very life.]

Oh. Um. I think... I should review the materials...

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

"Thankfully, there's a lot of materials here that you can use to research." The professor gestures toward the stacks. "I think you'll find it very useful."

She looks at you, pauses, and sighs. "I was going to place the due date in five hours, but since you all look a bit bewildered, I suppose I can be persuaded to allow for some extensions if they're needed. Your best chance at full marks is to turn it in on the earlier side, though." She shrugs. "I didn't say I was patient, on the syllabus, even if I am immortal. Please do make use of the additional sources in this library, though. It's important to have evidence to support your thesis, after all."

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

[Approaching her to see what she's working on]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

"Welcome," the professor says, briskly, tapping a stack of papers on her desk. "I'm glad you've finally arrived, since your assignment is due soon. I hope you were paying attention to the material, since I'm expecting a paper on the topic of its meaning."

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

I was hoping to review a little, still, to make sure I've got everything straight.

[Trying to get a look at what's on those papers]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

[ she's marking up other essays (double-spaced, typed). there is very liberal use of red pen going on here and scribbles like "cite your sources" and "this is an assumption." ]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[auguryofinnocence]

[Is he supposed to be asking something??? She looks so expectant???]

...What?

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

"Have you been paying attention? Well, I hope you have, since the final paper is due today." She gestures at the library behind her. "Thankfully, there's a lot of materials here that you can use to research."

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[auguryofinnocence]

...The what?

[Ma'am, what's a school? Please explain a thesis statement,]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

...hey. There's shit falling from the sky.

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

She pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Oh, wonderful. What manner of 'shit,' if you don't mind saying, unless you intended that to be literal."

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

Big metal things.

[Points toward where the satellite came down]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

Here.

[He drops his essay on the desk]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

The Definition of Humanity

Lumen Sufficiens

What is a human being?

The definition varies, depending upon the source. The dictionary states that a human is any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage. The Bible would have you believe that it is any person descended directly from the first man and the first woman.

By all accounts, and by both of these definitions, vampirism is not then a bar to the title of human being. A vampire remains a living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage. The Biblical definition, for all its frivolity, is also still achieved, if one truly believes that an unbroken line stretches out from a man with a fig leaf and a woman who ate an apple.

Shall we consider a scientific definition, instead?

Modern science agrees that humans possess certain easily identifiable characteristics, among them a larynx and opposable thumbs. Their skin is smooth and mostly hairless. They stand upright, and they have a distinctive brain, capable of forethought and creativity. They have unique understandings of their own mortality. They tell stories, and they are the only known animal to blush.

By these standards, too, vampires are considered human.

All of these definitions are semantics, however. In truth, there is another definition that better serves our purpose here.

It is the definition held by the writer of this essay.

"To love..." it has been said, "Sometimes requires one to rethink one's own positions; to sometimes bend in accordance."
Therefore, if the writer of this essay holds any place in the contents of this library or the heart of its owner, consider too this definition: a human being is an individual markedly different from all others. This person exhibits strengths, emotions, and opinions of their own. Above all, this person must be capable of giving love to others, and of receiving love in return.

By this definition, too – by the strength of her conviction, the depth of her feelings, and most importantly of all, by the affection held for her by her unit and by the writer of this essay – the owner of this library unequivocally qualifies as human.

There is one final definition of humanity which has not been addressed here, however, and it is, perhaps, the most important definition of all. It is the definition held by the owner of this library herself, as conveyed by the following quoted lines of poetry: "‘Tis a human thing, love/A holy thing, to love/What death has touched."

By this definition, the owner of this library is considered human by virtue of the fact that she possesses this one trait alone. That she does possess it cannot be debated; her love is felt by those closest to her, and for those lucky enough to receive it, it is a sentiment that can only be returned.

However, now that all of the relevant definitions have been thoroughly explored, and the dictionary, religious, scientific, and personal definitions of humanity have all been proven to be fulfilled, the writer of this essay wishes to add one final aside, as he has been informed recently that he can be a little too cerebral sometimes.

And so, in closing: we care about you, Hope. The reason that so many people can't stand the thought of you considering yourself less than human is because, to us, you are. You are intelligent, level-headed, warm, and strong.

You are a powerful force for good in the lives of a great deal of people, and I consider myself lucky to have known you.

Please be kinder to yourself.


References

• American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2016.
• Arain, Mariam, et al. "Maturation of the Adolescent Brain." Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Dove Medical Press, 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/.
• "Brains." The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program, 16 Jan. 2019, humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics/brains.
• Gottschall, Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. Mariner Books, 2013.
• Gray, Richard. "Earth - The Real Reasons Why We Walk on Two Legs, and Not Four." BBC, BBC, 12 Dec. 2016, www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161209-the-real-reasons-why-we-walk-on-two-legs-and-not-four.
• "Introduction to Human Evolution." The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program, 16 Jan. 2019, humanorigins.si.edu/education/introduction-human-evolution.
• Laberge, Maxine. "Chimps, Humans and Monkeys: What's the Difference?" Jane Goodall's Good for All News, 11 Sept. 2018, news.janegoodall.org/2018/06/27/chimps-humans-monkeys-whats-difference/.
• Masterson, Kathleen. "From Grunting to Gabbing: Why Humans Can Talk." NPR, NPR, 11 Aug. 2010, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129083762.
• "Mead Project Source Page, A." Charles Darwin: The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals: Chapter 13, brocku.ca/MeadProject/Darwin/Darwin_1872_13.html.
• "Naked Truth, The." Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-naked-truth/.
• Suddendorf, Thomas. "The Gap: The Science of What Separates Us from Other Animals." Basic Books, 2013.
• "The Definition of Humanity." Sufficiens, Lumen. Day 399.
• "The Practice of Love." The Tower of Babel.
• "'Tis a Fearful Thing." Stern, Chaim. Mishkan T'filah for Gathering, 17 Feb. 1987.
• "Thumb Opposability." Thumb Opposability | Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), carta.anthropogeny.org/moca/topics/thumb-opposability.



[Scrawled at the end of the references section is a message in Lumen's small, neat print:]

PS: This reference style guide is fucking bullshit.

[Then there is a small angry face]

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[libraryofbabel]

Well, the Professor went to go see about some things crashing into the building. So who is this at the desk?

"Is this your final answer?" she says, and—every book around you disappears. Any that you're holding, any that you can see, at least.

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[justfuckingtryit]

It is.

Who are you?

[Please assume that the citations are formatted properly for those references, by the way. I just could not be bothered to figure out how to make html do that at 3 am, but they are in fact correct in the essay itself]