What is a person?

[Violet]

Be able to interact with others of similar speices

I don't agree with this one... say that every other human on earth dies right now. Does that depersonalize you?

#1: "A person must have a place on the space time continuum."

^ This one is good.

Must have a function

It depends... does that mean 'can act' or does it mean 'intent in it's existence'? If it is the former, then I would agree. The latter would be much harder to 'sell' though

#2: "Must have mannerisms."

^ This one is good. I suppose that without mannerisms, an thing could hardly have a personality, and with no personality: how would a thing be a person? (rhetorical)

Be defined as homo sapien by genus and phylum

Why would this be necessary? That seems like it would remove androids, extraterrestrial sapient organisms. gods, and what have you... for no apparent reason (beyond that they are not human... to which 'human' already describes).

without the last one, I'm sure that our gorrila friends see other gorrillas as the gorilla equivelant to humans, but we wouldn't, nor would they see us as part of their society with value. By giving worth to things outside theese parameters (like hippie tree lovers and fanatic animal worshiper.. I mean advocates) we impart on them a sense of being a part of society thus having value to it, but not human. That's why some people feel dogs have souls, and go to heaven... and digging up a tree "hurts" it. We impart human characteristics on things we see as part of society.

Hmmm... an interesting view. And yet, we are all one great society... without the other creatures/plants on this planet: we could not survive. Indeed... they impact and shape our cultures as much as we shape their environment/needs.

Are they perhaps not 'human' characteristics... but rather characteristics that we also possess? Indeed... the differing cultures among Sol IV humans alone contain significant differences in morals/ideals. I have heard it suggested that there are no civilized or savage peoples: only different cultures... to which my experience (Especially regarding Bioware games I've played over the last year) appears to concur.

Of course... this from the girl who is attracted to SI constructs...