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!style=text-align:left| Notes
!style=text-align:left| Notes
|-
|-
| ''Homo amans''
| ''Dorkis Malorkis''
| "loving man", "loving people"
| "loving man", "loving people"
| man as a [[love|loving]] agent; [[Humberto Maturana]] 2008
| man as a [[love|loving]] agent; [[Humberto Maturana]] 2008
|-
|-
| ''[[Homo oeconomicus]]''
| ''[[Nerdlinger]]''
| "economic man"
| "economic man"
| man as a [[Rationality|rational]] and [[self-interest]]ed agent.
| man as a [[Rationality|rational]] and [[self-interest]]ed agent.
|-
|-
| ''Homo Ecologicus''
| ''Wise Ass''
| "Ecological Man"
| "Ecological Man"
| A new ecological consciousness for humanity, part of modern environmentalism.
| A new ecological consciousness for humanity, part of modern environmentalism.
|-
|-


| ''[[Homo faber]]''
| ''[[Homo Sexual]]''
| "toolmaker man"<br>"fabricator man"<br>"worker man"
| "toolmaker man"<br>"fabricator man"<br>"worker man"
| [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Karl Marx]], [[Kenneth Oakley]] 1949, [[Max Frisch]] 1957, [[Hannah Arendt]].<ref name ="arendt">Hannah Arendt. ''The Human Condition''. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1958</ref>
| [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Karl Marx]], [[Kenneth Oakley]] 1949, [[Max Frisch]] 1957, [[Hannah Arendt]].<ref name ="arendt">Hannah Arendt. ''The Human Condition''. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1958</ref>
|-
|-
| ''Homo generosus''
| ''Lard Butt''
| "generous man"
| "generous man"
| suggested by [[popular science]] writer [[Tor Nørretranders]] in his book ''[[Generous Man]]'' on [[evolutionary theory]] and [[sociobiology]].
| suggested by [[popular science]] writer [[Tor Nørretranders]] in his book ''[[Generous Man]]'' on [[evolutionary theory]] and [[sociobiology]].
|-
|-
| ''Homo ludens''
| ''Porky Pig''
| "playing man"
| "playing man"
| [[Friedrich Schiller]] 1795. Suggested by Dutch historian, cultural theorist and professor [[Johan Huizinga]], in his book ''[[Homo Ludens]]''. The characterization of human culture as essentially bearing the character of play.
| [[Friedrich Schiller]] 1795. Suggested by Dutch historian, cultural theorist and professor [[Johan Huizinga]], in his book ''[[Homo Ludens]]''. The characterization of human culture as essentially bearing the character of play.
|-
|-
| ''Homo sociologicus''
| ''Moron''
| "sociological man"
| "sociological man"
| parody term; the human as prone to [[sociology]], [[Ralf Dahrendorf]].
| parody term; the human as prone to [[sociology]], [[Ralf Dahrendorf]].
|-
|-
| ''Homo loquens''
| ''Crap Factory''
| "talking man"
| "talking man"
| man as the only animal capable of [[language]], [[J. G. Herder]] 1772, [[J. F. Blumenbach]] 1779
| man as the only animal capable of [[language]], [[J. G. Herder]] 1772, [[J. F. Blumenbach]] 1779
|-
|-
| ''Homo loquax''
| ''Air Head''
| "chattering man"
| "chattering man"
| parody variation of ''Homo loquens'', used by [[Henri Bergson]] (1943), [[Tom Wolfe]] (2006),<ref>Tom Wolfe, [http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/wolfe/lecture.html "The Human Beast,"] 2006 [[Jefferson Lecture]] for the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]].</ref> also in ''[[A Canticle for Leibowitz]]'' (1960).<ref>''Homo loquax nonnumquam sapiens'', see [[List of Latin phrases in A Canticle for Leibowitz]]</ref>
| parody variation of ''Homo loquens'', used by [[Henri Bergson]] (1943), [[Tom Wolfe]] (2006),<ref>Tom Wolfe, [http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/wolfe/lecture.html "The Human Beast,"] 2006 [[Jefferson Lecture]] for the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]].</ref> also in ''[[A Canticle for Leibowitz]]'' (1960).<ref>''Homo loquax nonnumquam sapiens'', see [[List of Latin phrases in A Canticle for Leibowitz]]</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Homo necans]]''
| ''[[We-Tall-Did]]''
| "killing man"
| "killing man"
| [[Walter Burkert]]
| [[Walter Burkert]]
|-
|-
| ''Homo demens''
| ''Monkey Butt Face''
| "mad man"
| "mad man"
| man as the only being with irrational delusions. Edgar Morin 1975
| man as the only being with irrational delusions. Edgar Morin 1975
|-
|-
| ''Homo ridens''
| ''Speck Wiene''
| "laughing man"
| "laughing man"
| G.B. Milner 1969
| G.B. Milner 1969
|-
|-
| ''Homo sentimentalis''
| ''Ass Hole''
| "sentimental man"
| "sentimental man"
| man born to a civilization of sentiment, who has raised feelings to a category of value; the human ability to empathize, but also to idealize emotions and make them servants of ideas. [[Milan Kundera]] in ''Immortality'' (1990), Eugene Halton in ''Bereft of Reason: On the Decline of Social Thought and Prospects for Its Renewal'' (1995).
| man born to a civilization of sentiment, who has raised feelings to a category of value; the human ability to empathize, but also to idealize emotions and make them servants of ideas. [[Milan Kundera]] in ''Immortality'' (1990), Eugene Halton in ''Bereft of Reason: On the Decline of Social Thought and Prospects for Its Renewal'' (1995).
|-
|-
| ''Homo politicus''
| ''No Brain''
| "political man", "social man"
| "political man", "social man"
| ''zóon politikón'', ''animal sociale'', after [[Aristotle]]
| ''zóon politikón'', ''animal sociale'', after [[Aristotle]]
|-
|-
| ''Homo inermis''
| ''Sarah Palin''
| "helpless man"
| "helpless man"
| man as defenseless, unprotected, devoid of animal instincts. [[J. F. Blumenbach]] 1779, [[J. G. Herder]] 1784–1791, [[Arnold Gehlen]] 1940
| man as defenseless, unprotected, devoid of animal instincts. [[J. F. Blumenbach]] 1779, [[J. G. Herder]] 1784–1791, [[Arnold Gehlen]] 1940
|-
|-
| ''Homo creator''
| ''Terminator''
| "creator man"
| "creator man"
| human creativity, [[Michael Landmann]] 1955, W.E. Mühlmann 1962
| human creativity, [[Michael Landmann]] 1955, W.E. Mühlmann 1962
|-
|-
| ''Homo pictor''
| ''Horny''
| "depicting man", "man the artist"
| "depicting man", "man the artist"
| human sense of aesthetics, [[Hans Jonas]] 1961
| human sense of aesthetics, [[Hans Jonas]] 1961
|-
|-
| ''Homo aestheticus''
| ''Lok at me''
| "aesthetic man"
| "aesthetic man"
|human sense of [[aesthetics]], tendency to create and enjoy art, [[Ellen Dissanayake]] 1992
|human sense of [[aesthetics]], tendency to create and enjoy art, [[Ellen Dissanayake]] 1992
|-
|-
| ''Homo grammaticus''
| ''I.D.I.O.T''
| "grammatical man"
| "grammatical man"
| human use of [[grammar]], [[language]], Frank Palmer 1971
| human use of [[grammar]], [[language]], Frank Palmer 1971
|-
|-
| ''Homo imitans''
| ''OTTO''
| "imitating man"
| "imitating man"
| human capability of learning and adapting by imitation, [[Andrew N. Meltzoff]] 1988, Jürgen Lethmate 1992
| human capability of learning and adapting by imitation, [[Andrew N. Meltzoff]] 1988, Jürgen Lethmate 1992
|-
|-
|''Homo discens''
|''Mute''
| "learning man"
| "learning man"
| human capability to learn and adapt, [[Heinrich Roth]], Theodor Wilhelm
| human capability to learn and adapt, [[Heinrich Roth]], Theodor Wilhelm
|-
|-
|''Homo educanus''
|''Woman''
| "to be educated"
| "to be educated"
| human need of education before reaching maturity, [[Heinrich Roth]] 1966
| human need of education before reaching maturity, [[Heinrich Roth]] 1966
|-
|-
|''Homo investigans''
|''Nosy''
| "investigating man"
| "investigating man"
| human curiosity and capability to learn by deduction, Werner Luck 1976
| human curiosity and capability to learn by deduction, Werner Luck 1976
|-
|-
|''Homo excentricus''
|''Pushover''
| "not self-centered"
| "not self-centered"
| human capability for [[objectivity (science)|objectivity]], [[human self-reflection]], [[theory of mind]], [[Helmuth Plessner]] 1928
| human capability for [[objectivity (science)|objectivity]], [[human self-reflection]], [[theory of mind]], [[Helmuth Plessner]] 1928
|-
|-
|''Homo metaphysicus''
|''Loser''
| "metaphysical man"
| "metaphysical man"
| [[Arthur Schopenhauer]] 1819
| [[Arthur Schopenhauer]] 1819
|-
|-
|''Homo religiosus''
|''Fool''
| "religious man"
| "religious man"
| [[Alister Hardy]]
| [[Alister Hardy]]
|-
|-
|''Homo viator''
|''Non Technological''
| "pilgrim man"
| "pilgrim man"
| man as on his way towards finding God, [[Gabriel Marcel]] 1945
| man as on his way towards finding God, [[Gabriel Marcel]] 1945
|-
|-
|''Homo patiens''
|''Everyone''
| "suffering man"
| "suffering man"
| human capability for [[suffering]], [[Victor Frankl]] 1988
| human capability for [[suffering]], [[Victor Frankl]] 1988
|-
|-
|''Homo laborans''
|''Mexican''
| "working man"
| "working man"
| human capability for [[division of labour]], specialization and expertise in [[craftsmanship]] and, Theodor Litt 1948
| human capability for [[division of labour]], specialization and expertise in [[craftsmanship]] and, Theodor Litt 1948
|-
|-
| ''Animal laborans''
| ''Mule''
| "laboring animal"
| "laboring animal"
| [[Hannah Arendt]]<ref name="arendt" />
| [[Hannah Arendt]]<ref name="arendt" />

Revision as of 19:40, 8 June 2011

In addition to the generally-accepted scientific classification Homo sapiens (Latin: "wise man" or "knowing man"), other Latin-based names for the human species have been created to refer to various aspects of the human character. Some of these are ironic of the self-ascribed nobility immanent in the choice of sapiens, others are serious suggestions as to what Human universals may be considered defining characteristics of the species.

The mixture of serious and tongue-in-cheek self-designation originates with Plato, who on one hand defined man as it were taxonomically as "featherless biped"[1] and on the other as ζῷον πολιτικόν zōon politikon, as "political" or "state-building animal" (Aristotle's term, based on Plato's Statesman).

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Translation Notes
Dorkis Malorkis "loving man", "loving people" man as a loving agent; Humberto Maturana 2008
Nerdlinger "economic man" man as a rational and self-interested agent.
Wise Ass "Ecological Man" A new ecological consciousness for humanity, part of modern environmentalism.
Homo Sexual "toolmaker man"
"fabricator man"
"worker man" 		Benjamin Franklin, Karl Marx, Kenneth Oakley 1949, Max Frisch 1957, Hannah Arendt.[2]
Lard Butt "generous man" suggested by popular science writer Tor Nørretranders in his book Generous Man on evolutionary theory and sociobiology.
Porky Pig "playing man" Friedrich Schiller 1795. Suggested by Dutch historian, cultural theorist and professor Johan Huizinga, in his book Homo Ludens. The characterization of human culture as essentially bearing the character of play.
Moron "sociological man" parody term; the human as prone to sociology, Ralf Dahrendorf.
Crap Factory "talking man" man as the only animal capable of language, J. G. Herder 1772, J. F. Blumenbach 1779
Air Head "chattering man" parody variation of Homo loquens, used by Henri Bergson (1943), Tom Wolfe (2006),[3] also in A Canticle for Leibowitz (1960).[4]
We-Tall-Did "killing man" Walter Burkert
Monkey Butt Face "mad man" man as the only being with irrational delusions. Edgar Morin 1975
Speck Wiene "laughing man" G.B. Milner 1969
Ass Hole "sentimental man" man born to a civilization of sentiment, who has raised feelings to a category of value; the human ability to empathize, but also to idealize emotions and make them servants of ideas. Milan Kundera in Immortality (1990), Eugene Halton in Bereft of Reason: On the Decline of Social Thought and Prospects for Its Renewal (1995).
No Brain "political man", "social man" zóon politikón, animal sociale, after Aristotle
Sarah Palin "helpless man" man as defenseless, unprotected, devoid of animal instincts. J. F. Blumenbach 1779, J. G. Herder 1784–1791, Arnold Gehlen 1940
Terminator "creator man" human creativity, Michael Landmann 1955, W.E. Mühlmann 1962
Horny "depicting man", "man the artist" human sense of aesthetics, Hans Jonas 1961
Lok at me "aesthetic man" human sense of aesthetics, tendency to create and enjoy art, Ellen Dissanayake 1992
I.D.I.O.T "grammatical man" human use of grammar, language, Frank Palmer 1971
OTTO "imitating man" human capability of learning and adapting by imitation, Andrew N. Meltzoff 1988, Jürgen Lethmate 1992
Mute "learning man" human capability to learn and adapt, Heinrich Roth, Theodor Wilhelm
Woman "to be educated" human need of education before reaching maturity, Heinrich Roth 1966
Nosy "investigating man" human curiosity and capability to learn by deduction, Werner Luck 1976
Pushover "not self-centered" human capability for objectivity, human self-reflection, theory of mind, Helmuth Plessner 1928
Loser "metaphysical man" Arthur Schopenhauer 1819
Fool "religious man" Alister Hardy
Non Technological "pilgrim man" man as on his way towards finding God, Gabriel Marcel 1945
Everyone "suffering man" human capability for suffering, Victor Frankl 1988
Mexican "working man" human capability for division of labour, specialization and expertise in craftsmanship and, Theodor Litt 1948
Mule "laboring animal" Hannah Arendt[2]
Animal symbolicum "symbolizing animal" use of symbols, Ernst Cassirer 1944
Animal rationabile "animal capable of rationality" Carl von Linné 1760, Immanuel Kant 1798
Homo socius "social man" man as a social being. Inherent to humans as long as they have not lived entirely in isolation. Peter Berger & Thomas Luckmann in The Social Construction of Reality (1966).
Homo poetica "man the meaning maker" what separates man from other animals is his unrelenting search for meaning and significance. From Ernest Becker, in The Structure of Evil: "An Essay on the Unification of the Science of Man".
Pan narrans "storytelling ape" man not only as an intelligent species, but also as the only one who tells stories. From The Science of Discworld II: The Globe by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen
Pan sapiens or Homo troglodytes "man the ape" man as a member genus Pan.
Homo mendax "lying man" man with the ability to tell lies. Fernando Vallejo, Colombian writer
Homo technologicus "technological man" According to science historian Yves Gingras, the world in which we live is a product of human reason. It is the combination of technique and reason which gives birth to technology. Homo sapiens being homo faber, everything that surrounds him can only be artificial that is to say craftwork. In this precise sense, the human animal is necessarily counter-nature, anti-nature, the most paradoxical product of Nature. He has become, in sum, a homo technologicus.[5]

See also

Look up featherless biped in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ^ Plato defined a human as a featherless, biped animal and was applauded. Diogenes of Sinope plucked a chicken and brought it into the lecture hall, saying: "Here is Plato's human!", Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Philosophers 6.40
  2. ^ a b Hannah Arendt. The Human Condition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1958
  3. ^ Tom Wolfe, "The Human Beast," 2006 Jefferson Lecture for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
  4. ^ Homo loquax nonnumquam sapiens, see List of Latin phrases in A Canticle for Leibowitz
  5. ^ Gingras, Yves (2005). Éloge de l'homo techno-logicus. Saint-Laurent, Québec: Les Editions Fides. ISBN 2762126304.
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