If you ask anyone, they'll claim we're different from the animals but have trouble pinning down how. True, we're more intelligent than other animals and we have some more pronounced traits but is there something only we have or can do?
P.S. Don't bring in religion.
Last Edited 02:20 GMT 08/06/09:
Okay as the publisher of the OP I'll try to catch up and giving an overview.
Discounted:
-Opposable thumbs are actually fairly common among primates
-Dolphins enjoy sex
-Elephants bury their dead
-Kangaroos are bipeds too
-Dolphins, elephants, primates and pigs are self aware
-Pigs, dolphins and elephants can problem solve
-insects operate in societies and can farm funghi and other insects
-language is used by nearly everything
-bacteria can terra-form too
-bacteria use energy from hydro-thermic vents
-No natural predator. Not unique.
-Climate change. All life affects the o2-co2 composition of the atmosphere
-Longevity. Easily beaten by 200+ lifespan of Bowhead Whale
-Most violent. How do you measure that?
-space. any animal has that potential. I was asking what makes the human race unique in a biological sense. See complex tools.
Rocky ground:
-intelligence, out on a technicality since this isn't unique. Sure other animals are less smart, but it's not a unique trait being intelligent.
-use of complex tools (primates can use tools, so with training they could probably fire a gun and do more complex actions)
-perception of time?
-abstract thought (includes morality and culture)hard to prove or disprove in animals
Unique:
-written language
-tail less bi-ped
The main one is the fact that it is not what we have, but the combination that is unique and the degree to which certain traits are employed.
P.S. Don't bring in religion.
Last Edited 02:20 GMT 08/06/09:
Okay as the publisher of the OP I'll try to catch up and giving an overview.
Discounted:
-Opposable thumbs are actually fairly common among primates
-Dolphins enjoy sex
-Elephants bury their dead
-Kangaroos are bipeds too
-Dolphins, elephants, primates and pigs are self aware
-Pigs, dolphins and elephants can problem solve
-insects operate in societies and can farm funghi and other insects
-language is used by nearly everything
-bacteria can terra-form too
-bacteria use energy from hydro-thermic vents
-No natural predator. Not unique.
-Climate change. All life affects the o2-co2 composition of the atmosphere
-Longevity. Easily beaten by 200+ lifespan of Bowhead Whale
-Most violent. How do you measure that?
-space. any animal has that potential. I was asking what makes the human race unique in a biological sense. See complex tools.
Rocky ground:
-intelligence, out on a technicality since this isn't unique. Sure other animals are less smart, but it's not a unique trait being intelligent.
-use of complex tools (primates can use tools, so with training they could probably fire a gun and do more complex actions)
-perception of time?
-abstract thought (includes morality and culture)hard to prove or disprove in animals
Unique:
-written language
-tail less bi-ped
The main one is the fact that it is not what we have, but the combination that is unique and the degree to which certain traits are employed.
