In what ways are all human beings alike?
Insofar as this differs from the above similar question, all humans can Think, Feel, Believe, and to some extent express their individual output on each of these modes (their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, &c.).
Why are human beings different? (Is the difference a product of our environment, or are we born different?)
Human beings are different because of biological, sociological, spiritual, and psychological factors (so ultimately the answer to the “Nature or nurture?” question is, sometimes perhaps frustratingly, both). Biologically, we differ genetically, and the genetic map there may be as much variation in personality as physical variation, and likely more so. Added to the genetic component is the way that individual biology has been impacted by external forces, like disease, syndromes, chromosomal defects, nutritional deficiencies, and so on. (So even cloned animals, sharing DNA, may “differ in personality,” that is, behave differently simply on a biological basis.)
Socially (and temporally), humans differ on a macro-level because of their different functions in societies, and the differences in societies that demand of individuals a certain mode of behavior (which will be interpreted and acted upon in accordance with each individual’s preexisting biology, among other things); and on a micro-level because no human shares precisely the same moment in space and time as any other. That is to say, situations may have similarities, but each is ultimately unique in such a way that even the very small differences may manifest in one’s personality.
Spiritually, each person is unique in a way that is infinitely more precise than even physiology and genetic makeup. This connects with the space-time concept, but as to “mapping the spiritual genome,” that I’ll leave to mystics and metaphysicians. Psychologically, that is to say, the way in which this all falls together within the spiritual context, humans are different because ideas that were given early in life and contexts that one may presently come upon require a certain mode of behavior. One may evaluate and adjust his or her behavior, or choose not to do so; and these decisions, often half-implemented, also contribute to each one’s personality.
