What makes us human?

Being human is able to make choices, make something of yourself, teach others right from wrong and to explore new things.

Make choices in many circumstances.
No one has addressed two pivotal points. The first is rather simple, our ability to reflect. No animal looks back on former actions to judge or review the effects of said actions. secondly humans have two instincts, the first we share with all animals, the instinct of survival or nature. The second instinct that makes us unique is the instinct of right and wrong. Ethics, the idea of acting or not acting, not because of consequences, but rather, because of a judgment on the action itself. It is the ability to chose between these two instinct that make us human. Humans are the only creature that don't act purely on the possible consequences of their actions. It is this idea that ends don't always justify the miens, that shows the uniqueness of our humanity. Humans are the only animals that can comprehend the greater good.

I think there is a lot of trial and error still left in the human form. And a lot of de-evolution that critical thinkers would be aghast to discover in our little species.I believe people knew as much about our nature, our being, and our relation to the universe, in ancient times, as modern science has rediscovered for the western world. What makes us truly and distinctively human, perhaps our incredible ability to adapt....even to chaos.

My favorite description of what it means to be human comes from a Matrix quote.
Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague...