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Jupiter60
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While humans are scientifically classified as animals, we frequently see ourselves as being something different from the animals. Why is this?
Jupiter60 said:While humans are scientifically classified as animals, we frequently see ourselves as being something different from the animals. Why is this?
Torbjorn_L said:Actually humans are primates too, so it would make more sense to say that humans (and other primates) descended from Primatomorpha. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primatomorpha ].
Pythagorean said:I wonder if it's natural for other animals to consider all animals besides themselves as distinct. I imagine so.
Pythagorean said:Certainly humans have a stronger social element than most animals. We can read the words of our ancestors and add them to our knowledge. We can idealize ourselves and our social image in comparison to dead people we admire. This ties into the ego mentioned earlier a lot, but it's also a sort of objective difference between us and other animals. To some extent, it's semantics - as long as we're all clear that man descended from primates.
enorbet said:@Pythagorean - Perhaps we are dealing with semantics here, since I would call those things recorded language (technology), somewhat different from fundamental social structure.
I'm very skeptical that if 80% of all humans were wiped out in a day, there would still be 20% left in just a few months, and have no doubts that social structure would utterly collapse.
Pythagorean said:Descending from and being aren't mutually exclusive, are they?
Evo said:How do they decide to perform a deliberate act in unison? It's not one animal attacking, then others join in. They have a plan and all carry it out together.
Odd improvising as a group all at once to address a single problem that doesn't really involve them personally, but to help a friend? Or if you prefer, a herd member?Pythagorean said:It would be difficult to determine whether they have a plan or they are just very experienced at improvising.
Evo said:Odd improvising as a group all at once to address a single problem.
I wouldn't have thought this possible just from reading about animal behavior, I think we need to rethink things.Pythagorean said:Odd planning too, no?
Evo said:I think we need to rethink things.
We may have different capabilities, but that doesn't detract from the emotions and intelligence of other species. We have seen where animals grieve over dead friends, and where others of their species come to the aid of a fallen friend.k9b4 said:Humans are different to other animals.
We possesses neural structures which enable us to think rationally, empathize with things similar to us, and construct complex concepts of reality. I do not believe that any other animal on Earth can do this.
Yes exactly. Humans have different capabilities. Humans are different. Humans possesses the most complex nervous system on earth. Humans are 'smarter', 'more intelligent', 'more emotional', whatever words you want to use. Our nervous system is what makes us different to other animals.Evo said:We may have different capabilities
We also have the capacity for doing evil against our species and others for pleasure. We are destructive to our environment for our pleasure, we are motivated by greed, we are self destructive. Those traits do separate us from animals. ;)k9b4 said:Yes exactly. Humans have different capabilities. Humans are different. Humans possesses the most complex nervous system on earth. Humans are 'smarter', 'more intelligent', 'more emotional', whatever words you want to use. Our nervous system is what makes us different to other animals.
Yes thank you, those are more ways in which humans are different to other animals.Evo said:We also have the capacity for doing evil against our species and others for pleasure. We are destructive to our environment for our pleasure, we are motivated by greed, we are self destructive. Those traits do separate us from animals. ;)
All organisms are motivated by greed.Evo said:we are motivated by greed
But we are motivated by personal financial gain and social status. I'm not too impressed with our species.k9b4 said:Yes thank you, those are more ways in which humans are different to other animals.
All organisms are motivated by greed.
And no other organism on Earth is motivated by financial gain and social status. Therefore, I conclude, humans are different to other animals.Evo said:But we are motivated by financial gain and social status.
I don't think anyone is saying we aren't different, different doesn't mean better.k9b4 said:And no other organism on Earth is motivated by financial gain and social status. Therefore, I conclude, humans are different to other animals.
"Why do humans see themselves as different from animals?"Evo said:I don't think anyone is saying we aren't different, different doesn't mean better.
k9b4 said:Yes exactly. Humans have different capabilities. Humans are different. Humans possesses the most complex nervous system on earth. Humans are 'smarter', 'more intelligent', 'more emotional', whatever words you want to use. Our nervous system is what makes us different to other animals.
Similar, sure. But still different. An airplane is similar to a car, but an airplane is not a car.DiracPool said:the gist of it is that the human brain and all other mammalian brains are remarkably similar in structure
Are you saying that all mammals think in the same way as humans, the difference is quantitative only?DiracPool said:with no unique structures or pathways distinguishing humans from any other mammal, let alone primates.
k9b4 said:Similar, sure. But still different. An airplane is similar to a car, but an airplane is not a car.
k9b4 said:Are you saying that all mammals think in the same way as humans, the difference is quantitative only?
Humans have a sense of self because of our highly developed brains and complex cognitive abilities. This allows us to think abstractly and reflect on our own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. We are also able to understand and recognize ourselves as separate individuals from others.
Humans differ from animals in many ways, including our ability to use language, think critically and creatively, and develop complex societies. We also have a greater capacity for self-awareness and self-reflection, as well as the ability to imagine and plan for the future.
Humans have a stronger sense of morality due to our ability to think abstractly and empathize with others. This allows us to understand the consequences of our actions and consider the well-being of others. Additionally, our complex social structures and cultural norms also play a role in shaping our moral values.
While it is difficult to definitively determine consciousness in other animals, research has shown that many animals exhibit behaviors and brain activity that suggest some level of consciousness. However, the level and type of consciousness may differ from that of humans.
Humans' interactions with animals can greatly influence our perception of ourselves. For example, domestication of animals has led to a closer relationship between humans and certain species, while the consumption of animals has led to a sense of superiority over them. Our interactions with animals also shape our cultural beliefs and values, which can impact our perception of ourselves as distinct from animals.