What does it mean to be human?

I have been thinking about this question a lot lately because it is the whole significance of literature in this course. I believe what separates us from animals is merely our overall view of the world as well as adaptation. While animals may rely on our planet for mere basics such as reproduction and food, humans need much more than that to survive. We need stability in our society, long-term relationships, money, houses set at the perfect temperature, and we need to feel as if we are worth something. If you really think about it, humans can die from a broken heart, from being out in the hot or the cold too long, or for no reason at all. We do not rely on ourselves to survive and we have lost any kind of animal-like instinct regarding survival. So, while we are more intelligent and expect to receive more from that intellect and to reach our maximum potential, I feel that animals can take better care of themselves and are stronger in the sense that they can adapt better to the changes and the harshness in their life. That is, humans acquire a better intelligence overall; however, animals are ultimately stronger and can handle the world in its pure state much more than we can.