Man vs. Beast

[bunny1ohio]

What truly makes man better than animals? Religion? Science? Thumbs?

Any thoughts? And why do you believe this

 

[Runt]

Sometimes I'm not so sure we're better than animals... animals don't destroy the world like we do...

However, we do have some characteristics that make us "better" (in some ways) than animals. Our intelligence, for one, certainly helps us survive, and if we use it correctly, could be used for the benefit of the entire WORLD, rather than just ourselves.

 

[Mike182]

thumbs, deffinatley thumbs! we did an experiment in an RE class, i held some fruit in my hand and had to hold onto it with out using my thumbs, while my teacher had to try and take it off me being allowed to use thumbs.... safe to say she won...

 

[standing_on_one_foot]

Hmm. Depends upon how you define better. What makes us distinct? Language is a big thing, of course. The level of sophistication there is truly incredible. Dunno how our brains do it. Then there's problem-solving and tool-using abilities. Other animals can too, of course, but not like humans. It seems to be our main strength. And with language you can pass on solutions, which is rather handy.

So, hands and brains, it generally comes down to. And we are very, very good at adapting to different environments (although that's really just hands and brains again).

 

[Mike182]

Hmm. Depends upon how you define better. What makes us distinct? Language is a big thing, of course. The level of sophistication there is truly incredible. Dunno how our brains do it. Then there's problem-solving and tool-using abilities. Other animals can too, of course, but not like humans. It seems to be our main strength. And with language you can pass on solutions, which is rather handy.

So, hands and brains, it generally comes down to. And we are very, very good at adapting to different environments (although that's really just hands and brains again).

yet, we are the only species to destroy parts of our environment, and then move on and blame other members of our species........ i dunno about "better" but, deffinatley "destinct"

 

[Jaymes]

Depends on how you define "better". I'd say we're more compassionate than animals, but we can afford to be.

 

[standing_on_one_foot]

yet, we are the only species to destroy parts of our environment, and then move on and blame other members of our species........ i dunno about "better" but, deffinatley "destinct"

Yes, we do have a capacity for wrong-doing, morals, choices, and so on. Once you've got that, you're bound to end up with individuals behaving badly. Does this make us as a species worse? I don't know.

There are, after all, plenty of species that can destroy the balance of an environment. Although they can't move on and blame it on someone else...lots of things have caused changes in the past. I'm not sure if that makes them better or worse. I doubt the terms really even apply.

 

[bunny1ohio]

Wow... y'all are fast lol... ok so we have a big thumbs up from mike *grins*... good example btw...

We have hand AND brains by standing.... and we have brains by runt... alrighty...

Thumbs are a big plus in building/grasping etc yes... but other animals have special adaptations for these things as well... picture playing tug with a labrador... which is stronger your thumb or their jaws?

Problem solving is definately not unique to humans... I saw a TV show where they gave a little sparrow a treat in a bottle and a piece of straw and a few other items to check out how well he could use tools or problem solve... he used the piece of straw (after much debate) to fish out his treat... hence he used both...and with language... gorillas can be taught sign language (since they can make the shapes with their hands) and can communicate extremely fluently through this medium as well as understand what is said back to them... 80% of human communication is body language (face to face of course) but most can't decifer it half as well as an animal because it is their largest form of communication as well as verbalizing (making sounds for the layperson )... animal vocal cords can't form the words we use to communicate, but very few humans understand what an animal is saying either. There is cross over in both though.... the dog whines and runs to the door and gives you their "pitiful" look... they probably have to pee LOL... you tell him to sit over and over and he eventually grasps that this word requires a specific reaction from his master and performs it. Same thing.. different mode of execution...

Great replies so far keep em rollin! :jam:

So far all I have seen to truly distinguish us is
1. The amount of information we can pass along verbally as such communication allows for so much diversity...
2. That we are so out of sync with our natural environment that we disturb the balance... but that is due to our "advancement"... cave men were in harmony with nature
and 3. We adapt faster not necessarily better, than animals to foreign situations...

 

[bunny1ohio]

Depends on how you define "better". I'd say we're more compassionate than animals, but we can afford to be.

We torture and main others for pleasure... animals only kill... to me they are more compassionate... they take the weak or the old or the infirmed and only to survive (usually except in defensive situations) we fight just because we don't agree on something.

 

[bunny1ohio]

Yes, we do have a capacity for wrong-doing, morals, choices, and so on. Once you've got that, you're bound to end up with individuals behaving badly. Does this make us as a species worse? I don't know.

There are, after all, plenty of species that can destroy the balance of an environment. Although they can't move on and blame it on someone else...lots of things have caused changes in the past. I'm not sure if that makes them better or worse. I doubt the terms really even apply.

Hmmm... so sort of a free will (choice) versus instinct theme... I like that one... some animals (herd/pack animals) will shun others for "abusing the status quo" or wrong-doing among the pack... judgement (justice) and wrong-doing...

Okay so let's leave the "better" term for another day and go with "more advanced"? lol

 

[finalfrogo]

What truly makes man better than animals? Religion? Science? Thumbs?

Any thoughts? And why do you believe this

I wouldn't use the term "better." It's like comparing apples with oranges. There are some attributes, however, that make us distinct from animals (although humans are technically animals, I'm using the common use of the word animals.) I would say that the two greatest distinctions are our enhanced intelligence and creativity.

There are certain attributes that are commonly thought unique to humans but are actually found in the animal realm. For example, the ability to recognized abstract concepts--commonly thought to be uniquely human--has been found in pigeons, which can be taught to distinguish the art styles of different artists, say Picasso vs. Van Gogh.

 

[bunny1ohio]

I wouldn't use the term "better." It's like comparing apples with oranges. There are some attributes, however, that make us distinct from animals (although humans are technically animals, I'm using the common use of the word animals.) I would say that the two greatest distinctions are our enhanced intelligence and creativity.

There are certain attributes that are commonly thought unique to humans but are actually found in the animal realm. For example, the ability to recognized abstract concepts--commonly thought to be uniquely human--has been found in pigeons, which can be taught to distinguish the art styles of different artists, say Picasso vs. Van Gogh.

Enhanced in what way?... I like where you're going with this reply though....creativity is common among animals too in their displays for mating (building bigger/better than the next guy... prettier decorations in his tail feathers... better dancer etc) as well as in their abilities to problem solve... althought I would agree they rarely create fresh things... they tend to follow set behavioral patterns unless pressed into a new situation... but that's where the adaptation and problem solving come in... :kat:

 

[Jaymes]

We torture and main others for pleasure... animals only kill...

Have you ever watched a cat play with a mouse? There's nothing compassionate about that. They keep it alive, but just hurt enough to be unable to run away, for as long as they find it amusing. Of course they don't understand that it feels pain like they do (I hope not, anyway), but that is torture.

They take the weak or the old or the infirmed

Animals can't afford to do that. Sickly members of the herd or flock have to be driven out, or at least ignored until they die. To get too close to them means you could catch what they have. Birds in particular do this. They hide their sickness as long as possible, because when it starts to show they're bullied and attacked.

Chimps and dolphins in particular have some of the best examples of torture and rape and cruelty I can think of in the nonhuman animal kingdom.

 

[Mike182]

Hmmm... so sort of a free will (choice) versus instinct theme... I like that one... some animals (herd/pack animals) will shun others for "abusing the status quo" or wrong-doing among the pack... judgement (justice) and wrong-doing...

Okay so let's leave the "better" term for another day and go with "more advanced"? lol

the entire animal kingdom seems to be content with what they percieve to be "life" .... generally speaking, we humans are not - just because we are more advanced, does not mean we are the best there is....

 

[standing_on_one_foot]

... gorillas can be taught sign language (since they can make the shapes with their hands) and can communicate extremely fluently through this medium as well as understand what is said back to them...

Hmm. Well, yes, lots of animals can communicate and solve problems. But not nearly to the extent that humans can. And with gorilla signing, well, it's not actually language. It's communication, but the two are not synonymous...We don't tend to notice language and grammar much, we're around it so often, but it really is amazing. The sheer sophistication of what you can communicate with it...it's certainly one of my favorite adaptations. But it really is a distinctive human trait.

Anyone ever read "The Language Instinct," by the way? It's an interesting book if you like language, although some parts are better than others. It's got a lot about how we learn and process language.

Oh, and ducks. Apparently, ducks are some of the biggest rapists in the animal kingdom.

 

[Sunstone]

What truly makes man better than animals? Religion? Science? Thumbs?

Any thoughts? And why do you believe this

I haven't read the thread yet, but someone is bound to ask you to define "better", and it's a good question. Some species of animals are better at some things than humans. Some species of animals are worse at some things than humans. It all depends on the specific things you're talking about.

BTW, the most successful species on earth, in terms of sheer numbers, is almost certainly some species of bacteria. Does that make that species of bacteria overall better than humans?

 

[bunny1ohio]

I haven't read the thread yet, but someone is bound to ask you to define "better", and it's a good question. Some species of animals are better at some things than humans. Some species of animals are worse at some things than humans. It all depends on the specific things you're talking about.

BTW, the most successful species on earth, in terms of sheer numbers, is almost certainly some species of bacteria. Does that make that species of bacteria overall better than humans?

Nope... just faster breeders... and I was asking about animals not bacteria

 

[jeffrey]

The ability to "find religion" when faced with death.

 

[bunny1ohio]

Have you ever watched a cat play with a mouse? There's nothing compassionate about that. They keep it alive, but just hurt enough to be unable to run away, for as long as they find it amusing. Of course they don't understand that it feels pain like they do (I hope not, anyway), but that is torture. Animals can't afford to do that. Sickly members of the herd or flock have to be driven out, or at least ignored until they die. To get too close to them means you could catch what they have. Birds in particular do this. They hide their sickness as long as possible, because when it starts to show they're bullied and attacked.

Chimps and dolphins in particular have some of the best examples of torture and rape and cruelty I can think of in the nonhuman animal kingdom.

Alright then let's clarify... humans KNOWINGLY torture others... a cat playing with a mouse is just that... playing with it... it most likely doesn't understand that what it is doing hurts... agreed...it's not TRYING to torture the mouse...The infirmed I was referring to was in relation to predatorial attacks... they don't go for the "ten point buck"... they go for the weak or ill or old...not the trophy.... And we do the same as to ignoring and driving away...highly contagious deadly disease victims are quarantined and wait to die... same premise... it's contagious... that wasn't the point though...

What examples are those? That's one I haven't heard yet so I'm curious....

But I digress... so... that means we are on equal footing with animals again... score one for the beasts

 

[bunny1ohio]

Hmm. Well, yes, lots of animals can communicate and solve problems. But not nearly to the extent that humans can. And with gorilla signing, well, it's not actually language. It's communication, but the two are not synonymous...We don't tend to notice language and grammar much, we're around it so often, but it really is amazing. The sheer sophistication of what you can communicate with it...it's certainly one of my favorite adaptations. But it really is a distinctive human trait.

Anyone ever read "The Language Instinct," by the way? It's an interesting book if you like language, although some parts are better than others. It's got a lot about how we learn and process language.

Oh, and ducks. Apparently, ducks are some of the biggest rapists in the animal kingdom.

They speak in "American Sign Language"... since when is that not language simply because it is unspoken? I agree the variety of sounds that can be communicated through human vocal cords are unique... except to parrots :areyoucra or mockingbirds... or... nevermind... Ducks are rapists? :areyoucra I need to look that one up too I guess... how do they "rape" another duck and when? Is it only during mating season? Or all the time for no reason except dominance... for that matter wolves do that too... to other male wolves... so homosexuality is not uniquely human either... lots of examples of that in the animal world....