Human Supremacy

[Master Vigil]

I wonder why destruction is so important in the concept of superiority? Just because its hard to kill humans doesn't mean we are superior? The nazi's killed alot of jews, gypsies, etc... Does that make them superior? I for one think that ability for destruction is the opposite of superiority. Sure, we may be one of the most intellectual species on the planet, but that doesn't necessitate superiority either. Just because we can build buildings, make atomic bombs, etc... We do more damage to this earth than the rest combined. If anything, we are the virus (matrix anyone). From the work I do with spirits, humans are on the bottom scale conscerning spirituality. Animals are so superior to us in that department. And dealing with wisdom, since I'm a taoist, I would go with animals being wiser too. Because they follow the tao better than humans do. This comment...

"We are superior intellectually to animals, so therefore we reign supreme. Without human beings I believe God is unable to function."

To me, this comment is very selfish, and egotistical. Again, we may be very intellectual, but that does not necessitate supremacy. And why would our intellect not allow god to function? I suppose god didn't exist before humans thought him up. That sounds good to me. However, I do believe that that Tao exists quite freely from our existence. And the animals are closer to it than we can even imagine. Don't be cocky, be humble. Than perhaps you will become closer to the tao.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

As my old nan so crudely put it,'Ya don't **** where ya eat.' We're not even smart enough to follow that simple a rule; how can we possibly say we're superior to anything?

 

[Yerda]

...since I'm a taoist, I would go with animals being wiser too. Because they follow the tao better than humans do.

...I do believe that that Tao exists quite freely from our existence. And the animals are closer to it than we can even imagine. Don't be cocky, be humble. Than perhaps you will become closer to the tao.

What exactly is tao or the tao?

 

[Valjean]

Aha! Now we start to define it. I think that to answer the question logically we have to have a list of qualifiers. Moral development and altruism are certainly both factors. Sustainability of the species and value to the environment should also be on the list. Any others?

As far as sustainability of the species and value to the environment go, Homo sapiens is a relative newcomer to the world stage. Until the end of the last ice age we were a rare species, tenuously holding on, that appeared not unlikely to become extinct. Once we learned to parasitize Nature and the planet we blossomed into a full blown infestation. We've now seriously damaged the planet's ecosystem and appear to be a serious threat to our own continued existence. Humans might be a biological flash in the pan; the latest Natural Catastrophe.

 

[Dr. Nosophoros]

No, I don't think humans are the supreme beings of this planet, but we seem to like to think we are, and the world we have now is a direct result of that.

 

[mrscardero]

What exactly is tao or the tao?

tao: Etymology: Chinese (Beijing) dào, literally, way
1 a : the unconditional and unknowable source and guiding principle of all reality as conceived by Taoists b : the process of nature by which all things change and which is to be followed for a life of harmony



Taoism: Etymology: Tao
1. a Chinese mystical philosophy traditionally founded by Lao-tzu in the 6th century [size=-1]B.C. [/size]that teaches conformity to the Tao by unassertive action and simplicity
2 : a religion developed from Taoist philosophy and folk and Buddhist religion and concerned with obtaining long life and good fortune often by magical means

 

[michel]

[PART QUOTE=Master Vigil] wisdom, since I'm a taoist, I would go with animals being wiser too. Because they follow the tao better than humans do. This comment...

"We are superior intellectually to animals, so therefore we reign supreme. Without human beings I believe God is unable to function."

To me, this comment is very selfish, and egotistical. Again, we may be very intellectual, but that does not necessitate supremacy. And why would our intellect not allow god to function? I suppose god didn't exist before humans thought him up. That sounds good to me. However, I do believe that that Tao exists quite freely from our existence. And the animals are closer to it than we can even imagine. Don't be cocky, be humble. Than perhaps you will become closer to the tao.[/QUOTE]
As usual, MV, you have very eloquently said something I have been trying to say for years ( Your last paragraph); like you, I believe that 'the human being' inherrently has an inflated image of himself. I know little of taoism; which is to my shame and regret. However, I have just talken a book out of the library on the Kabbalah (That being very 'a propos' my beliefs, since The Tarot, Astrology, Palmistry and numerology all stemmed from the Kabbalah.
Quote:[ The tree of life features as a potent symbol in the myths of many different cultures.......Trees have been our homes, our food............oxygen producing. Trees often peprsent basic values such as life itself, growth fertility wisdom itself......]

I was quite taken aback when I first saw that passage, being that I have always a 'tree of life' to explain my concept of predistination whilst still including choice, in the midst of reincarnation.

 

[Ceridwen018]

Humans, @#$% yeah!

 

[mrscardero]

But does that mean that we are superior to the dumb and the retarded because of our intelluctual abilities? If someone is brain dead, that cannot make them inferior by no means. By the way, great input by everyone.

There are those who have the intellects of a child but sometimes show intellect of an adult without them realizing. They may not show intelligence, but they show that they have some understanding. I don't find myself as superior to those who are less intellectual as I. They are still humans. The clients at my job has proved that.

I may not be the smartest person due to my lack of knowledge but shouldn't it be that everything that is living is superior in each chategory? Whether it be an Elephant to a mouse, disease to a human, etc..etc. Should we place ourselves in first place as Superior just because we are hard to wipe out with all the deseases and other things going on in the world today?

I place myself as a human but not superior.

 

[Valjean]

Generally, one piece of an engine or organ of an animal is not "superior" to any other. Each has its unique function and each is necessary for the smooth functioning of the whole.

Nature works like a huge, complex organism with myriad, interacting parts. Maybe the term "superior" doesn't fit this design well.

Of course, if a species were found that were demonstrably deleterious to the Natural world, perhaps it could properly be termed "defective " or "extraneous." At least, this would clearly remove it from consideration in the superiority debate.

 

[painted wolf]

I can think of a species that could be argued as Deleterious, 'defective' and 'extraneous'... but hey I'm biased.

wa:do

 

[almifkhar]

no we are not superior we just like to think we are. and here is some proof. on pbs, i was watching a show called nature and on this paticular show a lady has a few gorillas. she has taught these gorillas sign language and these gorillas understand english, can paint what is on their mind and can express through language what they think, how they feel, talk about their past and express their desires. this lady proved once and for all that other living beings love, hate, feel, ext. the sad part on the show was that the male gorilla was taken from the jungle. and this so called primative animal spoke about his mothers murder, how he watched them kill her and cut her into peices and how they ripped him from her. imagine that, a so called primative animal was able to speak of the atrocities he has witnessed on his spicies done by another so called supreme species

 

[linwood]

There is no human accomplishment that is not also found somewhere in nature.

wa:do

Nuclear fission?
Internal cumbustion engine?
Internet?
Crossword Puzzles?

 

[Valjean]

Isn't the Sunday NY Times crossword puzzle submitted by a group of bonobos from the Congo?

 

[johnnys4life]

I don't know. If we are, we still need to be considerate to other forms of life, insofar as we are able without hurting ourselves.

 

[Halcyon]

Most people certainly have a superiority complex, but i wouldn't say we are superior. We are not the strongest, fastest, longest lived, most reproductive or most environmentally tolerant animal on earth in our natural form, i.e. without technology. We are however the most intelligent, but then again we are going to cause a mass extinction, including that of our own species, how smart is that?

 

[Saw11_2000]

I am saying, in general, we are the dominant species here. We have wiped other species clear off the face of the Earth. We are technologically advanced. We even have to ability to destroy all life on the Earth and maybe even the Earth itself (not saying this is good, but we definitely have the most power of any species here). We can save species, we can pollute our world, we can stop cancer, we can destroy everything, we can fly into outer space, we pouch elephants in Africa, we certainly have a lot of power. How many things in comparison to us can dogs do that influences the world as a whole, I doubt as much as us. Again, I am not saying we are the ONLY important animal, just the most influential and important one overall. Let the flaming begin!

 

[Master Vigil]

I agree that we have alot of influence. I just don't equate that with superiority, or supremacy.

 

[Saw11_2000]

Alright then, we have found the source of disagreement. I attribute influence with superiority because it can force someone's will on someone or something else, which is something we unfortunately can do, things like hunting something to extinction is basically our influence of violence so much that we have asserted ourselves over them. I consider us being dominant there, and therefor being supreme.

 

[Master Vigil]

There we go. Our argument is worthless because we don't agree on the premises. Perhaps others do, and can argue with you. Good luck and may the spirits be with you.