What does it truly mean to be human? This essay delves into how an excerpt from Nick Kray's book, Material: Making and the Art of Transformation, published in 2020, highlights some facets of humanity. Before we explore what it means to be human, it's essential to understand what humans are. Humans belong to the species Homo sapiens, characterized by their upright posture, significant brain size, and complex culture. They evolved from the Homo Erectus species, meaning "upright man" in Latin, and are the most common primate species. The earliest human ancestors appeared between five and seven million years ago, and humans are social creatures who live in communities. They possess the ability to think, reason, and communicate through language. Additionally, humans can produce art, music, literature, and various forms of culture, and have advanced systems of government, law, and religion.

Kray's statement brings to light one important aspect of humanity: our ability to create and transform our environment. Humans have always been adept at changing the world around them through shelter building, crop cultivation, and artistic expression. Kray's reflection on the power of making and crafting showcases this unique human trait. By using his inventiveness and skills to transform raw materials into something new, he reshapes his environment and leaves his mark on the world. This capacity to create is an intrinsic part of the human experience and has been a vital component of our nature since the beginning of human history. Kray notes that this ability to fabricate and shape our environment is an innate aspect of humanity that distinguishes us from other species.

Kray's extract also highlights the diversity that exists among humans. Each person is born with their own unique characteristics, which means that it's rare to encounter two identical human beings. This diversity is what makes us human. When we're born, we develop distinct personalities, thoughts, skills, and identities that shape how we interact with the world around us. Kray describes those people who use their creativity and expertise to invent and construct things as "magicians, alchemists, and transformers of base nature," implying that they have a special quality that sets them apart from others. These individuals are those who utilize their natural or refined abilities to create something new and innovative, reflecting their one-of-a-kind qualities and expertise.

In conclusion, being human involves many things, including our ability to transform our environment, our creativity, and diversity. As a result, we have diverse pathways to lead our lives and contribute something unique that adds value to the human experience.

Kray's excerpt muses on a question that we all may ask ourselves at some point: Why have we chosen to invest ourselves in something that is physically and mentally demanding? This sentiment can be viewed as a reflection of life's cycle that most humans find themselves in. The mundane everyday events of work and survival make us forget the joy of the journey. Working for a living often results in following a similar path to others around us, creating a constant cycle of finding and improving the resources at our disposal. One must focus on converting one's education into a job or converting hobbies into a successful career, and extracting real-world materials to construct houses and goods required for living, such as electricity and cars. However, in this cycle of life, we may forget to enjoy the process of life's journey. In this excerpt, we are introduced to a fresh creative opportunity that helps the writer to find a new way to live. Not only does this new skill benefit his lifestyle, but it also permits him to appreciate the true essence of life, escaping the repetitive human cycle. Therefore, it is crucial to explore and find new and creative ways to enjoy life rather than focusing on working only to survive.

The concluding lines of the extract, "As a maker, I feel my humanity, my human being, the potential and danger I represent," could indicate the dangers of human actions towards the environment. Mankind continuously extracts resources from our planet to build and create. Unfortunately, this practice harms our environment and, in the long run, us too. When we extract minerals and resources, it has a detrimental impact on the planet, leading to soil erosion, deforestation, destruction of habitats, water pollution, and air pollution. The production of furniture and other by-products yields significant greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to climate change. Although Kray speaks of his passion for creating furniture in a positive light, he acknowledges that the creation process disparages the environment. A thought of guilt lingers in the writer's mind as they continue to create things while acknowledging the damage they have caused.

In conclusion, the human experience is multifaceted and complex, with several aspects and features. We possess the power to make decisions that can influence our lives, the people around us, and the planet we live on. It is our responsibility to deal with the impact of our choices and learn from the consequences of others' decisions. The unique and compelling power of our minds sets us apart from other animals, and it is through creativity and diversity that we prosper in this world.