What makes us human?

OneFootInTheGrave · April 1, 2003, 18:50

As opposed to an animal?

Whether you assume we were created by God, or evolved from animals... what makes us distinct from them?

Or probably the best would be your perceived "most important" distinction... tick few if you cannot decide.

Oerdin · April 1, 2003, 19:13

who's human? I'm a giant banana slug.

Skanky Burns · April 1, 2003, 19:18

I chose logic, abstract thinking and communication.

Dauphin · April 1, 2003, 19:22

There are many things that make us different compared to other animals, but that is by defintion true of all species.

The complexity of our brain is what makes us the dominant species. Everything else flows from that (language, logic etc...). Other animals have these abilities, just not as refined as ours.

Ben Kenobi · April 1, 2003, 19:22

Not much of a surprise, but I vote:

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Which I suppose counts as soul.

VetLegion · April 1, 2003, 19:33

This is a trick question because all those attributes can also be found in an animal or a computer.

Japher · April 1, 2003, 19:35

Quote:

What makes us human?

The ability to ask, and attempt to answer, that question.

OneFootInTheGrave · April 1, 2003, 19:37

Well a computer could have a more complex "mind" soon... as for animals they could as well have souls

'

one thing that appears that only humans have from the above is the sense of supernatural ...

MRT144 · April 1, 2003, 19:38

vet, when are animals creative without human prodding, when are computers logical without human prodding, whens the last time you saw an animal and a computer debate ayn rand?

OneFootInTheGrave · April 1, 2003, 19:43

Animals can be creative without humans - they learn stuff, like new feeding grounds, how to sort out physical obstacles ..etc...

computers on the other hand could/are pushed towards creativity/randomness call it what you like with advances in AI.

MRT144 · April 1, 2003, 19:46

One foot, actually instinct to adapt wouldnt really what i would consider creative.

its the fact that we use our creativity to do things that arent related to our survival which is what i find astounding

Japher · April 1, 2003, 19:49

Slef preservation does not separate us from the beast, nor do the means by which it is accomplished. What separates us is the will, or reasons why, we chose to do so, or in some cases chose not to do so...

General Ludd · April 1, 2003, 20:02

As opposed to being an animal?

That's one of the main things that makes us human.

OneFootInTheGrave · April 1, 2003, 20:03

well it is not always just instinct... I am sure that the plays that dolphins have or some other animals that just bind their time could be classed as creativity. And as far as I have watched they have some sort of better communication between themselves too...

reds4ever · April 1, 2003, 20:13

i voted art, more specifically, jewellry, face painting etc. the ability to understand how others percieve us

GePap · April 1, 2003, 20:39

Philosophy and art is how I voted. Let them chimps try to direct a movie! wait, that might be a cool film to see....

molly bloom · April 1, 2003, 21:26

Our inability to react instinctively to the submission response.

Our ability to question our own existence.

Our ability to project and plan for the future.

Our mismanagement of the environment.

Empathetic projection.

Lord Merciless · April 1, 2003, 21:33

Quote:

Originally posted by molly bloom
Our mismanagement of the environment.

That's only because there are more of us than any other similar sized animals.

Zero · April 1, 2003, 21:53

Its funny how you phrased the banana option because its true.

In my genetics class I learned that we share over 50% genetic similarity from a bananana. Apparrentlya genetic information to create a banana isnt too far from creating a complex being like us.

So I was forced to vote for the banana... even though I was serious about it. The option had a very very good arguement.

reds4ever · April 1, 2003, 21:56

who the hell is voting for 'soul'? the other options encompass the notion anyway

Zero · April 1, 2003, 22:00

Quote:

Originally posted by MRT144
One foot, actually instinct to adapt wouldnt really what i would consider creative.

its the fact that we use our creativity to do things that arent related to our survival which is what i find astounding

ever seen a chimp use a narrow stick to lure ants into the stick and lick it off?

Or how about a bird that fishes using a piece of bread?

MRT144 · April 1, 2003, 22:02

thats not art creative. creating visual or musical things for the sake of itself is something animals dont do.

Zero · April 1, 2003, 22:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
There are many things that make us different compared to other animals, but that is by defintion true of all species.

The complexity of our brain is what makes us the dominant species. Everything else flows from that (language, logic etc...). Other animals have these abilities, just not as refined as ours.

Intelligence:
Thats not true. My bio professor told me once that dolphins have a brain thats FAR more complex than ours. If you think about it, it makes sense that a dolphin would be alot smarter than some retarded cave man.

Language:
There are so many organism that are far better at communicating than us. Just look at me and my ex-girlfriend.... Its really not a good example of good communication in its prime.

Only reason why I see humans being dominant is because of thier thumbs and an ability to preserve their communication, which gives them an unequal ability compared to other organism.

Zero · April 1, 2003, 22:14

Quote:

Originally posted by MRT144
thats not art creative. creating visual or musical things for the sake of itself is something animals dont do.

ok somethign i missed from ur statement before is somethign creative "that has nothign to do with our survival".

You're right though. I cant think of one. Now its bothering me. Can animals create something creative for sake of itself?

reds4ever · April 1, 2003, 22:25

Quote:

Originally posted by MRT144
thats not art creative. creating visual or musical things for the sake of itself is something animals dont do.

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 1, 2003, 22:29

We deliberately create or do things harmful or counterproductive to ourselves.

(fast food, birth control, sarcasm, and nuclear weapons spring to mind)

Lemmings jump off cliffs, but we've taken it to the next level

General Ludd · April 1, 2003, 22:29

Quote:

Originally posted by MRT144
thats not art creative. creating visual or musical things for the sake of itself is something animals dont do.

Many birds make ornamental nests. Some sing and dance, too.

I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are other animals that are artistic aswell.

General Ludd · April 1, 2003, 22:31

Quote:

[SIZE=1] Originally posted by Six Thousand
Lemmings jump off cliffs

Actually, they're thrown off by movie producers.

JCG · April 1, 2003, 23:04

The fact we can do/have all of the above while still being a single animal species *is* rather impressive...

PeteH · April 1, 2003, 23:24

One of the best summaries I've ever heard is along the lines of "the ability to tell a story":

you come across a set of animal tracks in front of you, and you realize that at some point in the past an animal walked by, and at some point in the future at the other end of the tracks you will find the animal, or at least where the animal last was (perhaps before being eaten by another predator). From one piece of physical evidence, we are able to in effect predict the future, and share that news with others. It is not the same as following a scent, which is basically a string of physical evidence, it is an abstraction based on past experience. I dont think this makes us any more suited than any other creature to try and rule the earth however