Humans Vs. Any Other Species

[SalixIncendium]

In your personal opinion, are humans more important than, superior to, or better than other species on this planet or any extraterrestrial life that may exist in the universe?

Why or why not?

What does your religion or philosophy teach about this?

 

[ChristineM]

No.
Sorry for the lengthy answer

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

If I happen upon a serious boating accident, and notice a puppy and a baby in the water, I would first help the baby.

 

[SalixIncendium]

No.
Sorry for the lengthy answer

Ah, but in this thread, I did ask for a follow-up response where many I provide my signature TL;DR response do not.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If I happen upon a serious boating accident, and notice a puppy and a baby in the water, I would first help the baby.

Why?

 

[SalixIncendium]

@Jayhawker Soule's response reminds me of a question I heard: If you're driving down a narrow street and you young child and an old man simultaneously walk out in front of you, what do you hit?

 

[Viker]

Nope.

My religion teaches that if we don't take care of each other and behave responsibly with nature, we will get extincted. We're not special, exceptional or superior. We're every bit as vulnerable as the rest of life on earth. We are capable of empathy and a profound degree of understanding. We shouldn't waste that.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Why?

I will try to answer that question, but first tell us what you would do and why.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I will try to answer that question, but first tell us what you would do and why.

I'll be happy to answer, but you presented the scenario, so I think it's only fair that you respond first. In the meantime, I'll work on formulating a response myself once I've had more time to ponder and contemplate on the scenario.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I'll be happy to answer, but ...

Never mind.

 

[RestlessSoul]

@Jayhawker Soule's response reminds me of a question I heard: If you're driving down a narrow street and you young child and an old man simultaneously walk out in front of you, what do you hit?

A tree?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Never mind.

That's fine, too.

But in all fairness, the OP did ask "why or why not," but you chose to just offer which you thought was more important by presenting a scenario with no elaboration, and when, again, asked why you chose, you elected to turn the question for the scenario you presented back on me and demand that I answer first.

 

[SalixIncendium]

A tree?

The brakes.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Why?

I can’t answer for other posters, obviously. But I would prioritise the baby’s life over the puppy’s, because the baby’s life has more value from my human perspective. That doesn’t mean the puppy is of less value in God’s eyes; only God knows the answer to that question, and God, as my old dad would say, ain’t telling. But I am human, so I think as humans think and see as humans see.

 

[ChristineM]

Ah, but in this thread, I did ask for a follow-up response where many I provide my signature TL;DR response do not.

Ok
Bacteria are at least equal to humans, without them living in our gut we wouldn't be alive. And quantity? Humans almost 8 billion. Bacteria in 1 human being, 100 trillion. They got us beat on numbers alone.

 

[PureX]

In your personal opinion, are humans more important than, superior to, or better than other species on this planet or any extraterrestrial life that may exist in the universe?

Why or why not?

Yes, because we have developed the ability to contradict nature, and thereby countermand the fate of the Earth.

What does your religion or philosophy teach about this?

That we can choose harmony over selfishness, if we are willing to rise above ourselves.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

That's fine, too.

Thanks.

But in all fairness, the OP did ask "why or why not," but you chose to just offer which you thought was more important by presenting a scenario with no elaboration, and when, again, asked why you chose, you elected to turn the question for the scenario you presented back on me and demand that I answer first.

I really didn't consider it a demand, but I can see how you might consider it to be one. I should have been less terse.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Thanks.

I really didn't consider it a demand, but I can see how you might consider it to be one. I should have been less terse.

In the since your initial request, I did work on a response:

The scenario is highly circumstantial. Proximity to me, ability to swim (dogs are inherently better swimmers than humans), which one I have the best chance of saving, etc.

I would obviously want to save both and would be devastated if one perished for the survival of the other. But if I’m being completely honest, if all considerations are equal, it would be very difficult for me to make a decision as to which life is more important. The puppy could one day save the life of the person that would find a cure to cancer. The baby could one day become a dictator responsible for killing billions. I couldn’t just default to an obvious answer.

 

[bobhikes]

In your personal opinion, are humans more important than, superior to, or better than other species on this planet or any extraterrestrial life that may exist in the universe?

Why or why not?

What does your religion or philosophy teach about this?

I share two perspectives on this, from a human perspective yes humans are more important. I need Doctors, Mechanic's, Farmer's ..etc for my survival. No other species except maybe extraterrestrial life is going to do this for me.

From the Earth's perspective, humans are the worst species on earth and should be irradicated. Humans forcibly change the landscape, the waters and the air, pollute the world, and kill off other species.

 

[SalixIncendium]

From the Earth's perspective, humans are the worst species on earth and should be irradicated. Humans forcibly change the landscape, the waters and the air, pollute the world, and kill off other species.

Humans, if they keep their current course, will ultimate eradicate themselves. The Earth was here a long time before humans appeared and will be here long after humans are extinct.