Karen Joy Fowler’s Interpretation of What Describes a Human as Illustrated in "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves"

Introduction

In the novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, the subject of what it means to be human is explored throughout the entire text. The interesting aspect of Fowler’s work is that it doesn’t demonize either human or non-human animals for making mistakes. She illustrates the rawness of reality when it comes to family struggles and forgiveness, offering a nuanced view of both human and animal experiences.

Human Adaptability and Advancement

Something that separates humans from non-human animals is our ability to expand our horizons and adapt. The human race has evolved beyond animals with technological advances, discoveries, and new knowledge. We are the most advanced species on Earth, yet not the only inhabitants of this natural world. We must learn to share and adapt to new research. Using gentle wit at times and searing intensity at others, Fowler’s message throughout this novel is that animal rights are on the same continuum as human rights (Fowler, 2013).

Complexity of Human Communication

Communication is a crucial part of any species, but humans have developed a more complex version. The concept of languages comes into play when asking the question, “What makes us human?” Non-human animals do have verbal and nonverbal communication, but not to the same level of complexity with which humans interact with one another. The difference is that communication can happen at all levels of intelligence, while language is much more complex. Language is a subcategory of communication, one that is elaborate and requires higher brain capacity. Before the human invention of writing, language was just an auditory channel. Communication can happen in any of the five senses and more, for example, smell, visual, sound, vibrations, body language, or echolocation. With over 6,500 languages in the world, all with their separate grammar, conjugations, dialects, and accents, it is self-evident that humans have a more advanced type of communication than other animals.

Socioeconomic Structures and Human Behavior

Looking closer at the human race, we are controlled by currency. Money is one thing we have that non-human animals do not. Non-human animals do trade and barter, but they don’t have the type of advanced brains that humans do, and have no need for highly refined exchanges. Connecting this idea to the book, Fowler (2013) writes, “Money is the language humans speak, Lowell told me once upon a time, long, long ago. If you want to communicate with humans, then you have to learn how to speak it.” (p. 305). Our socioeconomic system is centered around money. Humans work to make more money to buy food and clothing; it’s a desire and now a part of our human nature. This obsession with material wealth has significant implications on how we view ourselves and others, often overshadowing more humane aspects of our nature.

Human Empathy and Moral Dilemmas

An interesting point about human behavior is the fact that we often don’t recognize animal intelligence as being on the same spectrum as our own. We view non-human animals as lower than us, degrading their intelligence just because they aren’t as advanced as the human race. While contemplating the manner in which humans interact with each other, I realized the concept of being a human being is confusing. In history and even in current events, some races, genders, sexualities, etc., have been lowered to the status of an animal, mistreated, discriminated against, and even killed. Fowler (2013) expresses her thoughts on this subject through a college professor's lecture: “‘Do unto others’ is an unnatural, inhuman behavior. You can understand why so many...say it and few achieve it. It goes against something fundamental in our natures. And this, then, is the human tragedy - that the common humanity we share is fundamentally based on the denial of a common shared humanity.” (p. 521). As part of the human race, we’re supposed to be the most advanced species; so why do we have no empathy for some groups of people and completely wipe away their human status? This paradox is at the heart of Fowler's exploration of what it truly means to be human, urging readers to reflect on their own beliefs and actions.