Man vs. Beast (morals, choices, choice, morals, religion)

[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]

Originally Posted by 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).

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]

Originally Posted by Mike182

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!

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]

Originally Posted by Jensa

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]

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

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