A list of claims of what humans are, with ‘human nature’ overtones. It’s meant to be in fun, and the list isn’t complete.
- We are moral animals. (1)
- We are killer apes. (2)
- We are risen apes, not fallen angels. (3)
- We are aquatic apes. (4) No we’re not.
- Man the hunter. (5)
- Woman the gatherer. (6)
- Man the firemaker. (7)
- Homo, the endurance runner. (8)
Born to run? (Source: Wikipedia)
- Homo, the high-velocity thrower. (9)
- We have an instinct for art. (10)
- We have an instinct for language. (11)
- We do not have an instinct for language. (12)
- We are Homo economicus. (13)
- Man the tool-maker. (14)
- Pan the tool-maker. (15) Not us, but it’s clever.
- We are social animals. (16)
- We are cooperative breeders. (17)
- We are hypersexual animals. (18)
- We are sexy beasts. (19)
- We are political animals. (20)
- We are rational animals. (21)
- We are irrational animals. (22)
- We are no longer just apes; we are biocultural ex-apes. (23)
- We are complex.
Patrick F. Clarkin, Ph.D. 
I’m sure this list could be longer. What did I miss?
Very nice list. Also, here is a lit of things every culture has: http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/13/every-culture-has-a-1/
Thanks, Greg. I liked your list too.
Great list! I would add:
We like to make lists and classify (binarily & otherwise)
Very true. Homo numerus.
Born to run.
Born to fly.
Born to be wild.
Born to dream.
I was born to rub you, but you were born to rub me first.
Man the rule maker…and breaker.
Homo ludens.
We are aware of our mortality and fallibility.
We have sense of humor (I know chimps goof around, but do they play practical jokes?).
Homo humorous.