Human beings are considered uniquely capable of ethical behavior due to their complex relational physical-psycho-spiritual unity, which encompasses moral capacity, cultural creativity, and the ability to engage in critical dialogue and take responsibility for their actions.

Key Insights

• Complex Relational Unity:
  • Human beings possess a unique combination of physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions that contribute to their moral subjectivity
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  • This holistic view justifies the uniqueness of human moral acts and the nature of virtue as a moral disposition for a good and happy life
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• Ethical Capacity and Cultural Creativity:
  • Research in animal intelligence suggests that while animals may exhibit some degree of intelligence and communication, humans are distinct in their ethical capacity and cultural creativity
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  • Human ethics involve complex cultural and spiritual dimensions that are not paralleled in the animal kingdom
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• Critical Dialogue and Responsibility:
  • According to Bakhtinian dialogic ethics, humans engage in self-contradictory deeds charged with ethical tensions, which must be challenged through critical dialogue
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  • This process involves taking responsibility, defining ethical values, and committing to fixing negative consequences, which are essential aspects of human ethical behavior
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Conclusion

Human beings' unique ethical capacity is rooted in their complex relational unity, cultural creativity, and ability to engage in critical dialogue and take responsibility for their actions, distinguishing them from other beings and artificial entities.