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Are Humans and Humanity Special?
- Thread starter rojse
- Start date
jarofthoughts
Empirical Curmudgeon
They are special to us because we are humans.
They are special on a biological scale, although, granted, not by much (also, so is every other species).
They are special in that no other species on this planet has achieved this level of diverse and advanced technology.
Other than that...
Not much.
I guess someone at some point will bring up philosophy and art or something similar, which I guess is valid enough, but there is nothing inherently special about humans as such. If another species, say some form of lizard had evolved to our level of technology, then they would be the special ones in that department.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Yes, due to the ability to reason and rationalize. And the ability to formulate and understand abstract concepts.
Perhaps in their ability, and penchant, to compare themselves to others.
"Human beings are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experiences of others, also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so." - Douglas Adams
Skwim
Veteran Member
They're all members of my club, and as members we've all sworn to to uphold each other as special, except when we don't, as in wars, acts of malice, and in Washington's Birthday deep discount sales.
Ya, you betcha!
We invented bacon, porn, math, titanium alloys, TV & duct tape.
We invented bacon, porn, math, titanium alloys, TV & duct tape.
The Sum of Awe
Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
Not to me. Even though we are sapient.
Skwim
Veteran Member
I know yer josh'm me...."duck" tape was originally used by tin knockers (aka, HVAC technicians) to seal air ducts.
Btw, the premium grade & aluminum tape are waaaaaaay better than generic crap.
Btw, the premium grade & aluminum tape are waaaaaaay better than generic crap.
Skwim
Veteran Member
Humans are interesting in the sense that they have developed far greater abstract reasoning than any other known organism, plus advanced technology, formalized writing systems, first known Earth species to go into space, etc.
I don't think we're anything spectacularly different, but I would expect that if alien biologists came to study Earth, humans would be at the top of their list for species of interest.
I don't think we're anything spectacularly different, but I would expect that if alien biologists came to study Earth, humans would be at the top of their list for species of interest.
Storm
ThrUU the Looking Glass
Depends on what you mean by special. We're unique among (known) life forms in that we're sapient. That doesn't mean God loves us more, or anything like that.
For info, in Dharmic theology humans are special because they can realise the divine.
Due to reincarnation, a human birth is considered an auspicious birth and should not be wasted.
In Vedanta, the basic premise is that: life is divine and the purpose of life is to come to know why life is divine. So you set about trying to work it out - something which humans are able to do mentally and others explain well above.
Hi Vendetta
Isn't that imagination until it actually happens?
Why dwell in imagination would be my next point.
Just curious what you think?
Thief
Rogue Theologian
I agree.
We are different...not special.
Special would be more to seeing your son...in a crowd of people.
Everyone is different.
Only he would be special.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
Humans are certainly special to themselves as a species. More ridiculous is that most individuals find themselves special within our species, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
