What is the one thing that separates Homo sapiens from the rest of the animals?

Question

It must be ONE thing.

Answer 1

The ability to understand symbols.

Answer 2

In response to the answer which said we are the only species to engage in same-sex intercourse, he or she has much research to do. In fact, we are the only animal species with such a strict social taboo against it. I recommend you begin your search with Bonobo Chimpanzees, who use same-sex intercourse as a way to relieve tension, gain trust, build friendships, and to mend relationships.



In response to the question itself, as much as we may wish differently, there is no single thing that separates "us" from "them". Homo Sapiens Sapiens are different from our most recent ancestors only in (relatively) slight ways. For instance, there has been a reduction of brow ridge and an increase in cranial capacity. What separates us from other modern-day primates is a long line of evolution from the time in which the various paths forked. We have the greatest capacity for vocal consanant production of any primate and the greatest cognitive ability in the area of directed communication--even the Bonobo Kanzi who seems to be able to create original sentences using American Sign Language is only on the level of a three year old Homo Sapien child. The fine-tuned ability of our digits and the perfect adaptation of our physique for bipedal locomotion also make us unique.

These are just the biological answers. There is, of course, a host of philosophical reasons why we are a distinct species, but I answered from my background in studying anthropology. :)

Answer 3

I agree w/Rosesharon: it is our awareness of our own mortality. Other species (even pre-Homo-sapiens ancestors, like Homo erectus) had a spiritual life, but the mortality issue was probably not as big a deal to them. As for other species, many use and even make tools (chimps strip leaves off twigs to get into termite nests), have bigger brains and language (dolphins?). Technically, birds walk upright, and so can bears and chimps for short distances. Many species have language. As for opposable thumbs, someone here asked about that and the best answerer listed some monkeys (opposable toes too), a type of frog and pandas!

One species that puzzles me are dogs: they DO seem to be aware of death in humans, such as howling after the human dies. Some dogs, like spouses, die shortly after their human "owners". Do they "know" something spiritual, or is it just chemical?

Some answers above that are untrue: self-awareness-many primates, esp. in captivity have identified themselves by name, when looking in the mirror.
-killing just for "fun" - Jane Goodall, among others, have documented many instances of the chimps she once thought were so peaceful, staging raids and killing other chimps for no apparent reason, as in a gang-war.
-choosing when to have sex - this is a BIT iffy, but female chimps, during estrus, will seek out males, thus "choosing" to have sex, sometimes even after all the males are exhausted !

Answer 4

The main differences is that we are the ones who determine the classification system. My point is that we are in fact not different except that since we make the rules, we have arbitrarily placed ourselves above the rest of animals. In fact we are simply a "naked" ape who is more intelligent than others and we are the only living bipedal ape. Other than that, the differences pale compared to similarities.

Answer 5

Morality, or a sense of right and wrong. Human beings are not at the mercy of their natural instincts, as are the animals. We can act in ways which are contrary to instinct because we believe it to be right, or to because it is wrong to act in the instictual way. For example, it is instinctual for a man to want to be sexual with every young healthy female he encounters. However, some of us take vows not to do so, and because of the idea that it is morally wrong, do not.

Answer 6

I don't know about most of the answers here (as most of them seem refutable), but I do know we are the only animals on this planet who have come up with the whole concept of a god.

Ironically, we seem to think we have the right to act like one when it comes to our interaction with the rest of the planet...

Answer 7

There is only one thing that separates man from all other animals - it is the ability to think, and thus has lead us to beleive we are the top of the food chain and better than all others. But this is not the case. Only man has the ability to destroy the planet.

Many primates have opposable thumbs. And no one has a soul - it is another figment of man's ability to imagine things and make us better than animals.

Answer 8

There are many things, although inside we are still animals. On the one hand, our brains, our imagination which allows us to make goals, our knowledge of death, our ability to manipulate our surroundings and our need to save others, our dreams, memories, our knowledge, our instinct to survive under any circumstances and maybe adrenaline.

Answer 9

The mere fact that we're the only race who can make choices. Other animals survive on instincts.

Answer 10

Homo sapiens have sex with people of the same gender, while other animals do not.