Poll: which is the most universal human characteristic?
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Fear and yes lust/libido but I am also extrememly lazy but I don't think that is a universal trait.
But..fear is just there to make sure we don't get ourselves killed..Most organisms have it. Isn't this thread about a universally 'human' characteristic?AC10 said:
I wouldn't say complexities surrounding love/sex as many species have mating rituals.
I wouldn't say fear because most species share it.
I'd love to say something like culture, invention or the appreciation of beauty but I can't argue that other animals cannot appreciate beauty (of nature/art/each other), as I suppose they see fitness in a mate as beauty just as us. Though need to create a culture I think is fairly universal with humans, with the only real exception being children left in the wild who never learn to speak and write. I wouldn't be surprised if they had their own ideas of god and so on twittering around their brains however.
Does it need to be an emotion? looking at the long list of emotions, many of them seem a whole lot more human than fear or laziness. I'd not even rank them top 5.
Wonder, embarrassment, guilt, regret and empathy would come before for me.
I wouldn't say fear because most species share it.
I'd love to say something like culture, invention or the appreciation of beauty but I can't argue that other animals cannot appreciate beauty (of nature/art/each other), as I suppose they see fitness in a mate as beauty just as us. Though need to create a culture I think is fairly universal with humans, with the only real exception being children left in the wild who never learn to speak and write. I wouldn't be surprised if they had their own ideas of god and so on twittering around their brains however.
Does it need to be an emotion? looking at the long list of emotions, many of them seem a whole lot more human than fear or laziness. I'd not even rank them top 5.
Wonder, embarrassment, guilt, regret and empathy would come before for me.
Fear as everyone has it. There are people who devote their lives to fitness. You can't control fear though.
oddresin said:
Embarrassment is quite a good one. Although some animals could arguably have the capacity to be embarrassed.
except cats..cats just pretend that nothing hilarious happened, and that you're the idiot for laughing.
Fear is a universal human characteristic. Edit: It's probably a real universal characteristic. I mean even aliens would have fear
Laziness is more of a western civilization trait. Many cultures and parts of the world are very active and detest laziness.
Laziness is more of a western civilization trait. Many cultures and parts of the world are very active and detest laziness.
Ants keep slaves too, it's more of a power thing then a lazyness thing. Anyway, you hit the nail on the head with your first phrase: every creature fears, it's a self-defence mechanism. Thus fear is the obvious answer to the OP's question.samaritan.squirrel said: