In the humble opinion of you mere mortals, what distinguishes a human being from a beast?

Answer 1

an inflated, arbitrary, and wholly artificial sense of self-importance.

Answer 2

Our own ability to comprehend each other, and the silly pride we take in that.

For the most part, humans understand each others motivations and desires, we understand each others languages and expressions and mannerisms. They make sense to us. Sometimes understanding and comprehension breaks down among different groups of humans. We start to think of people that are different from us as "beasts". We forget that we are really all the same and our variations are adaptations to the environment/culture we must somehow try to survive in. Then we have lovely things like war and terrorism and slavery. WE become the beasts, too.

Just because we don't understand what the bird in the tree is singing about doesn't mean that the other birds don't and it doesn't make the song any less beautiful.

Answer 3

Nothing. We _are_ beasts.

Of course, we are also unique in some ways. We have abstract language- verbal, somatic, and written. We alone have the capability to destroy ourselves completely. We are also the only species with the capability to leave earth under our own power (perhaps with the exception of those species symbiotic or parasitic to man). We are alone in having religion, philosophy, and the arts.

Of course, dolphins dance, whales sing, dogs love, pigs think, ants farm, cats paint, birds talk and bonobos... well they're alot like us.

So while we are definately beasts, when comparing us to the rest of the animal kingdom, we have many similarities as well as many differences that we should celebrate.

Answer 4

In a manner of speaking.

What allows a human to create an opinion? Consciousness.

What allows a human being to be aware of his/her existence? Consciousness.

What allows a human being to perceive meaning in material possessions? Consciousness.

What allows a human being to think in a manner for which no other human being is capable of thinking, such as while creating art or determining symbolism? Consciousness.

Therefore, what differentiates us is the simple concept of consciousness. It's just that most humans don't have the conscious ability to control their consciousness, thus allowing deeds of "evil" to be perpetrated (otherwise known as not being capable of controlling the animalistic instincts still embedded in our mind. It is the inability to control consciousness which proves that humans are only a step above beasts)

Answer 5

We are descendants of a long line of bipedal apes. Chimps and Gorillas apparently also evolved from our bipedal ape ancestors. Some of our ancestors have brains nearly as big as ours so I would say the only thing that distinguishes us is our culture and the fact that we have dominated the world much more so than any other mammal in my humblest of opinions.

Answer 6

Humans are the only beasts. We corrupt our own environment.


What makes you think that you are not mortal?

Answer 7

Many of the answers here are just stupid! The word distinguish is implying a difference in kind, between animals and human animals. There is no such distinction; the difference is in degree, not kind.

Answer 8

Complex thought. The ability to reason and differentiate from a spectrum of emotions. Love. Hate. Fear. Jealousy. This is Human.

Answer 9

The spirit of man is in the image of God, therefore the brain and heart are different - wired differently.

Answer 10

Opposible thumbs

Answer 11

Our innate ability to recognize any other living thing as having any worth other then our self's.