(INSIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE, No. 003, May 2003)
Human beings are different from all other earthly beings because they are rational beings. Human beings are also different from other earthly beings in that they are animals, as distinguished from plants or from inanimate non-living things, a category they share with other non-human animals. For this reason, a 
human being is rightly defined as a rational animal, even if at times s/he exhibits more animality than rationality; animality and rationality are constantly in a state unstable equilibrium in humans, the one or the other taking the upper hand at any given moment. Rationality, however, remains the necessary and sufficient condition for being human. But, even though rationality defines being human, human beings are not always rational in their behaviour, and to the extent that they behave irrationally, to that same extent are they less than human. Being rational simply means acting in a reasonable manner, pursuing good and justifiable aims, using the most appropriate means to achieve appropriate ends, having a sense of proportion in adapting means to ends, etc.
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Professional translator, freelance writer and a regular contributor to THE POST newspaper. Lives in Douala, Cameroon
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Thanks Doc.
As you rightly stated, Man is a rational Animal but he uses his RATIONALITY to futher his ANIMALISTIC pospensity.
Posted by: MAIMO GIL-BELDWIN RAWLS | October 15, 2005 at 10:59 AM