The definition of mankind has been the subject of animated discussion for millenia. Religious as well as secular accounts are available, albeit without being able to provide a convincing answer so far. This volume contains four different perspectives on the question of what characterizes mankind. The accessible contributions by Dagmar Fenner, Annemarie Pieper, Wilhelm Schmid, and Dieter Thomä resist the temptation of pursuing final answers, but foster self-reflexion instead.