What do you think separates humans from other animals?
- Thread starter CulixCupric
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I suppose what separates us is the ability to pass on (So much) knowledge between generations. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. One leopard may teach its cub how to hunt, but the technique largely (I'm no biologist) doesn't improve or change dramatically from one parent to their children. Humans, on the other hand, teach our children what we know, and our children iterate upon what we know and take it further. We're not the only inquisitive species, but our curiosity coupled with our passing on of knowledge to such a degree simply puts us way above other species.
That's my opinion.
That's my opinion.
i'm not very fluent in the field of politics or the economy but i'm pretty sure that's not how it works and as for those aliens they are no better than us if they think that we need help and decide not to(because they apparently have no problems of their own and may as well help)Rasmus Emilsson said:
You're right, technology (greater technology, anyway), and religion are certainly factors, but I'd like to throw a few other things into the mix. First of, a greater understanding of the universe. Secondly (and debatable, especially in this modern society), morals and ethics. Lastly: luck. I wanted to include higher brain function, but that probably wouldn't be entirely true. Our brains and bodies just happen to be suited to survive the best. I mean, look how we turned out! Take Dolphins for example. Their brains are probably better than ours! But their bodies don't allow them to use them to their full potential. Evolution-wise, we just got lucky. Frankly, in my opinion, to say we're not animals is just silly. Time and evolution allowed our brains and programming to be tweaked to the way it is now. As far as I'm concerned, we're meat, we need to eat, and we die. Sound familiar? It should, because we're living things like animals. Although I have a strong feeling we won't stay biological for long...
Technology makes no difference. Plenty of animals can use tools or their environment as we can perhaps not to the same extent but they are able. What makes us different from other animals is our ability to choose and use reason. A cow will act like a cow true some anomalies exist but for the most part it will follow a set pattern of behavior because that is what it instinctively does. There is no choice it simply act according to its nature. A human has instincts and patterns engraved into them but they can choose whether or not to follow them or take an alternate course of action. (for better or for worse).
We seek truth. We corrupt truth. We hide truth.
Not just banal 'facts', but inner truths, existential truths, inherent truths.
When we tell a story that did not actually happen, we are doing something animals do not do. When we seek the reason for why the rain falls and not just hide under the branches until it stops, we are doing things animals do not do. When we smile at someone's face, only to stick a knife in their back, we do something the animals do not do. When we seek to achieve for no other reason than the achievement is difficult, we do something the animals do not do.
We hunger for knowledge, we seek a purpose, we seek worth, we seek immortality (beyond mere self-preservation). We ask ourselves 'what separates us from the other animals?'
That is the difference.
Not just banal 'facts', but inner truths, existential truths, inherent truths.
When we tell a story that did not actually happen, we are doing something animals do not do. When we seek the reason for why the rain falls and not just hide under the branches until it stops, we are doing things animals do not do. When we smile at someone's face, only to stick a knife in their back, we do something the animals do not do. When we seek to achieve for no other reason than the achievement is difficult, we do something the animals do not do.
We hunger for knowledge, we seek a purpose, we seek worth, we seek immortality (beyond mere self-preservation). We ask ourselves 'what separates us from the other animals?'
That is the difference.
Intelligence (or at least self-awareness), opposable thumbs... oh, and language, can't forget that...
Humans are trained in art too, wtf do you think art SCHOOL is? a place where ppl crap out a marble statue are sent to learn how to pass more through their bowels?BiscuitTrouser said:
As as arrogant as you are, not all humans will just randomly pick up shit and start making works of art. If incomprehensible scribbles in a 1st graders notebook is art, then why isnt a monkeys?
By the way, can you please post some of your great works of art? if you want to back up your argument on how humans can create such creative works then please show us yours.
until then heres a video that does indeed prove other animals can make art.
he never really said that HE was a great artist and that elephant did not just pick up a brush and start painting it's TRAINER taught it to make the painting by getting too memorize the movements and unless it picks up the brush again and paints something new without instruction you will then have a semblance of a point.Wushu Panda said:
This.canadamus_prime said:
And the ability to spout astonishin' nonsense in this topic void of any logic and/or use of basic biology or evolutionary theory, which you should learn in school.
Just because we're on top of the food chain for a nanosecond of our worlds history, we think we're something special, something unique.
We're not. We're young, we're arrogant and we're going to vanish without a trace like thousands of species before us.
We're not seperable from animals, since we're an animal. We're nothing transcendent, no super-being.
I understand that you can say that we are arrogant and everything but I don't see how you can say that we are nothing special.i'm telling you this from miles away in a few seconds this is proof enough that we are in a way "special"Adeptus Aspartem said:
This:Azahul said:
http://wordlesstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/iss.jpg?w=640
Tell me when the chimpanzee's have got one too. Until then, I'm rather content with this one.
First post in 2 days of lurking to make me laugh, I tip my hat to you sir.ace_of_something said:
What separates humans:
-The need for the inventions of others to survive
-The need to completely alter the entire environment just to be able to survive
-Thinking we're superior because of it
We think we're smart, but only because we're the ones writing the test, so to speak. It's hard to say what in our brains makes us think and act the way we do, so it's hard to say if any other animals share our tendencies for "othering", misdirected ideals of morality, superiority complex, or even how we think in general.
Yeah, I don't think too highly of my species. Only because many of us tend to be asshats to nature and never stop to appreciate our actual place in the world and what we take for granted. I respect that we're pretty poorly suited for survival, and I also don't discredit the possibility that animals may be smarter than we think.
/What if animals all speak a common language, and WE're the odd ones out? /Keanu
-The need for the inventions of others to survive
-The need to completely alter the entire environment just to be able to survive
-Thinking we're superior because of it
We think we're smart, but only because we're the ones writing the test, so to speak. It's hard to say what in our brains makes us think and act the way we do, so it's hard to say if any other animals share our tendencies for "othering", misdirected ideals of morality, superiority complex, or even how we think in general.
Yeah, I don't think too highly of my species. Only because many of us tend to be asshats to nature and never stop to appreciate our actual place in the world and what we take for granted. I respect that we're pretty poorly suited for survival, and I also don't discredit the possibility that animals may be smarter than we think.
/What if animals all speak a common language, and WE're the odd ones out? /Keanu