Difference Between Person & Human

A person is a human being and a human being is a person. This is a common belief, and these two terms are often used interchangeably as if they were synonyms. However, there might be some differences between the two concepts. In this article, we will explore the differences between a person and a human to help understand the appropriate contexts for using each term.

Key Takeaways

• A person is an entity with legal and social rights, while a human is a person who exhibits certain qualities characteristic of human beings alone.
• A human is a psychosomatic union of human flesh and human spirit.
• There is an ongoing philosophical debate about the dichotomy between a human and a person, with opinions for and against this view.

A human being is not just a skeleton of bones and flesh; they are much more than that. The human body is composed of flesh, blood, and bones, while the human soul is composed of the human spirit. A human being is a psychosomatic entity that is a union of human flesh and human spirit. When we refer to the human flesh, we talk about persons. Even a convicted criminal is a person, as they possess human flesh, but such individuals may not possess the human spirit. The words “human” and “humanity” are related, and people with humane qualities of sympathy and compassion are considered humans.

A person is a human being as long as their body and soul are connected or united. A man on his deathbed, having lost all intellectual and emotional capacities, is still a human being. However, a criminal without any feelings towards fellow human beings and who is willing to kill others without hesitation may not be considered a human being. They are a person but lack the qualities that make a person a human being.

This distinction between a human and a person is a subject of considerable philosophical debate that never seems to end, as people have opinions for and against this view of dichotomy between the two concepts.