What human traits does Spock actually have?

[eschaton]

Thinking about the depiction of Spock across Trek media, there's a strange conflict: The half-human nature of Spock developed into a core part of his character, and yet in all visible ways, Spock appears to be a full-blooded Vulcan:

Going through the list:

• His blood is green, not red.
• His ears are as pointed as any others of his race.
• His eyebrows are the same as any others of his race.
• He has the typical Vulcan inner eyelid
• His internal organs, like his liver and heart, are canonically in the Vulcan positions, not the human ones.
• He goes through Pon Farr, like a normal Vulcan

Overall, I cannot think of a single physiological feature whereby Spock is more similar to humans than Vulcans - or one where Vulcans seem more extreme.

That leaves personality. As someone who is partially human, is Spock actually different from other Vulcans? It's hard to say. Across the shows, it's been made clear that Vulcans are not inherently logical, but in fact canonically feel stronger emotions than humans, and must use deep social conditioning to repress things. Maybe Spock being able to express emotion without becoming a rage-filled basketcase is a sign that he's partially human? Only we do meet Vulcans across the series (like Sybok) who manage to express emotions without seeming to go mad, so this doesn't seem like a difference either.

On the whole, it just seems like his half-human status exists to be treated narratively as a moral failing in the eyes of other Vulcans - a stain on his soul. But in every other way, he is indistinguishable from other Vulcans?

Do I have this wrong?

 

[BillJ]

On the whole, it just seems like his half-human status exists to be treated narratively as a moral failing in the eyes of other Vulcans - a stain on his soul. But in every other way, he is indistinguishable from other Vulcans?

It is because, generally speaking, Vulcans are hypocritical dicks.

 

[Scanlan]

It's a boring answer, but the reason is originally he was "the alien" on the human crew of the Enterprise so they played up how biologically different he is from humans without really thinking about biologically differentiating him from vulcans. And since he was "the vulcan" they subsequently made all the other vulcans like him, down to the haircut.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Discovery established that he inherited dyslexia/l'tak terai from Amanda. Spock also may have gone through pon farr later in life than Vulcans usually do ("I'd hoped I would be spared this, but the ancient drives are too strong.")

 

[Ragitsu]

Spock does not possess the full (theoretical) lifespan of a pure Vulcan.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

So it appears it's all intangible, not anatomical.

 

[weeping_willow]

Thinking about the depiction of Spock across Trek media, there's a strange conflict: The half-human nature of Spock developed into a core part of his character, and yet in all visible ways, Spock appears to be a full-blooded Vulcan:

Going through the list:

• His blood is green, not red.
• His ears are as pointed as any others of his race.
• His eyebrows are the same as any others of his race.
• He has the typical Vulcan inner eyelid
• His internal organs, like his liver and heart, are canonically in the Vulcan positions, not the human ones.
• He goes through Pon Farr, like a normal Vulcan

Overall, I cannot think of a single physiological feature whereby Spock is more similar to humans than Vulcans - or one where Vulcans seem more extreme.

That leaves personality. As someone who is partially human, is Spock actually different from other Vulcans? It's hard to say. Across the shows, it's been made clear that Vulcans are not inherently logical, but in fact canonically feel stronger emotions than humans, and must use deep social conditioning to repress things. Maybe Spock being able to express emotion without becoming a rage-filled basketcase is a sign that he's partially human? Only we do meet Vulcans across the series (like Sybok) who manage to express emotions without seeming to go mad, so this doesn't seem like a difference either.

On the whole, it just seems like his half-human status exists to be treated narratively as a moral failing in the eyes of other Vulcans - a stain on his soul. But in every other way, he is indistinguishable from other Vulcans?

Do I have this wrong?

You are right IMO.

 

[Ragitsu]

Has Spock ever functioned in extreme environments, without the aid of life support? There was an episode of Voyager where Tuvok survived prolonged exposure to a notably thin atmosphere.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

Spock seemed less affected by the extreme cold in 'All Our Yesterdays'.

 

[David cgc]

And yet, Harry Mudd clocked him as "part-Vulcanian" by sight. Or was it sight...?

I propose that Spock smells human, and pure Vulcans have a distinctly different B.O. that's apparent to even non-Vulcans. Based on ENT, the reverse is certainly true.