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What Makes Us Human?

rojse

rojse

RF Addict
What is it about humanity that separates us from all other animal species?

BONUS QUESTION: If your response uses the word soul, spirit, Fnord, or so forth, what are the effects of having this thing, which an individual without this thing would not be able to achieve?
 
JMorris

JMorris

Democratic Socialist
rojse said:
What is it about humanity that separates us from all other animal species?

BONUS QUESTION: If your response uses the word soul, spirit, Fnord, or so forth, what are the effects of having this thing, which an individual without this thing would not be able to achieve?
Click to expand...

pants:yes:

*edit* i defer to Pearl Jam on the issue

"Woo..
I'm ahead, I'm a man
I'm the first mammal to wear pants, yeah
I'm at peace with my lust
I can kill 'cause in God I trust, yeah
It's evolution, baby"
 
Last edited:
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
Pretty much whatever sort we want, the industrialized being a prime example.
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
rojse said:
How is that any different from the termite, for example?
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The termite does not have the power to change the world. No offense, hon, but I honestly can't comprehend why you would ask such a question.
 
rojse

rojse

RF Addict
Storm said:
The termite does not have the power to change the world. No offense, hon, but I honestly can't comprehend why you would ask such a question.
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On the grand scheme of things, we are really not that much larger than termites. Certainly, we have the power to change the world, but all we've really managed to do so far is degrade the quality of large tracts of land, put some holes in the ozone layer, burn down a lot of forests, kill quite a few species, and put up lots of buildings. If we all died tomorrow, our only long-lasting contribution to this planet, and the only long-term evidence we will have for existing, will be a small strata within the geological formation of the Earth that carries traces of burnt particulates.

Back to the original question, you mentioned that the industrialised world is something that separates humans from everything else. Now, how do you believe our industrial society is meaningfully different to the industrial society created by colony creatures, such as ants, termites, or bees?
 
Gharib

Gharib

I want Khilafah back
Trey of Diamonds said:
Animals desire food. They desire affection. They form bonds not unlike marriage in humans.
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you kind of got me but then again you haven't, i was relating it to another post in the first page bout animals not having a dissire for money, so i should have been more clear about what sort of dessires.
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
rojse said:
On the grand scheme of things, we are really not that much larger than termites. Certainly, we have the power to change the world, but all we've really managed to do so far is degrade the quality of large tracts of land, put some holes in the ozone layer, burn down a lot of forests, kill quite a few species, and put up lots of buildings. If we all died tomorrow, our only long-lasting contribution to this planet, and the only long-term evidence we will have for existing, will be a small strata within the geological formation of the Earth that carries traces of burnt particulates.
Click to expand...
Yes our power to change the world can be used for good or ill. We've damaged it, but we can also set it right. But my point isn't limited to the environment.

Back to the original question, you mentioned that the industrialised world is something that separates humans from everything else.
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No, actually, it was an example of how we have utilized our capacity, no more. I only used it because you mentioned it. Another example would be our utilization of morality.

Now, how do you believe our industrial society is meaningfully different to the industrial society created by colony creatures, such as ants, termites, or bees?
Click to expand...
Sheer scale and its attendant impact, on both the environment and our lifestyles.
 
Trey of Diamonds

Trey of Diamonds

Well-Known Member
eselam said:
you kind of got me but then again you haven't, i was relating it to another post in the first page bout animals not having a dissire for money, so i should have been more clear about what sort of dessires.
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Still disagree. Many humans have no desire for money, does that make them less human? I don't see how what you may or may not desire has to do with the definition of humanity.
 
Gharib

Gharib

I want Khilafah back
Trey of Diamonds said:
Still disagree. Many humans have no desire for money, does that make them less human? I don't see how what you may or may not desire has to do with the definition of humanity.
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still didn't get it huh.

again i am not limiting dessire only to money or food or cake. i am saying that humans have a different dessire level than animals. us for example will try to get anything that we want, meaning we will have a dessire greater than animals.

i don't think i can really express my thoughts on this any better but plese try to understand what i am saying. if you don't bad luck. :eek:
 
Trey of Diamonds

Trey of Diamonds

Well-Known Member
eselam said:
still didn't get it huh.

again i am not limiting dessire only to money or food or cake. i am saying that humans have a different dessire level than animals. us for example will try to get anything that we want, meaning we will have a dessire greater than animals.

i don't think i can really express my thoughts on this any better but plese try to understand what i am saying. if you don't bad luck. :eek:
Click to expand...

I understand, I just don't agree. An animals level of desire is not any greater, only its ability to act on that desire which is due to the level of intelect.
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Storm said:
Sheer scale and its attendant impact, on both the environment and our lifestyles.
Click to expand...
If we're looking at the impact of species on the planet, I'd rank the impact of humans well, well below that of the earthworm.

And if we're talking about the impact of classifications larger than species, we can't hold a candle to the environment-altering impact of plants.
 
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