What is it to be human?
How do human beings differ from other natural beings?

A conceptual genealogy
How do human beings differ from other natural beings?
What are the functions, special traits and characteristics that distinguish human beings from objects and other living creatures?

This project aims to undertake an in-depth study of these questions in philosophy and the history of philosophy. The project focuses on three conceptual areas:

• the place of human beings in the universe
• mind-soul-body
• personhood-agency-responsibility.

The most important research objective is better to understand which elements in conceptions of the special status of human beings are historically determined and which can be regarded as independent from major changes in the development of ideas.