Why do people say that humans are the most superior species?

Answer 1

Its all about control, since we can do the most, and effect the most animals around us people think that we are the superior. However, you have to question if control is the right indicator for saying a species is superior. For instance if you take a dog you'll see that a dog is much more morally superior then a human. Loyalty, bravery in the face of fear, humility.

Answer 2

Actually, "superior species" is more of a layman's term than a scientific term. Not that I mean to put lay people down. I'm basically a layman myself. However, scientists prefer to use the term "The dominant species" instead.

There were various times in the earth's geological history when trilobites, dragonflies, dinosaurs, dire wolves, sabertooth tigers and Neanderthal men all took their turn as the dominant species on the planet. Today, it is us, Homo Sapiens. Scientists also say that the dominant species is the least likely to survive. That means we could be facing a mass extinction similar to the dinosaurs in the not too distant future say, over the next 20,000 to 1 million years.

Scientists don't consider characteristics which make a species unique to necessarily make them superior. For example, humans have the abilities in language, math, tool making and weapons making that apes and monkeys don't have. Yet, all of the apes, including chimpanzees, are physically stronger than any human is. When it comes to tree climbing and vine swinging, monkeys would have us beat by a mile. So to some extent, superiority is a relative term, and all of the scientific, technological, linguistic , artistic, musical and intellectual things humans take pride in are really things that just make us unique in the animal kingdom, but not necessarily superior.

Answer 3

Look, I can give you pages and pages of psychobabble if that's what you're looking for in an answer. But the simple answer would be one characteristic that puts us above all species and it is the ability to: "say NO". That is in a nutshell of what it means to resist evil, something animals don't posses. It is one trait that "only" when used correctly gives us superiority. Animals are all instinct. They cannot differentiate between good and bad. Nature can be divided in 4. 1. The inanimate i.e. rocks and minerals. 2. The animate i.e. plants ant trees. 3. The animal kingdom. 4. The human being. Rank for yourself!

Answer 4

It's a matter of human culture, really. In the 21st century we value intelligence more than anything else. As an example, the humans who are more intelligent and receive the most educaiton are rewarded with higher paying jobs.

Therefore, humans would conclude that the species with the most intelligence (by human standards) is the most superior species. We also like to point to the fact that our brains are more densely packed with neurons than any other species. Many other animals have larger brains (Elephants, Blue Whales, etc.) but our brains are the most densely packed with brain cells. This doesn’t make us smarter in any objective sense, but it is a “fact” that humans often use to demonstrate their superiority.

In a larger sense, no species wants to admit that it’s inferior to any other (just as no race, gender, religion, etc. among human beings goes around claiming it’s inferior). Admitting inferiority would make life pretty depressing for humans at this point. Maybe at some point in the future we’ll be mature enough to evaluate the situation objectively, but I’m not sure it will happen in your lifetime or mine.

Answer 5

Why? Because it gives us a good feeling. I think it is the result of the 19th century ideology of evolutionism. "We" are at the top, the end result of a very long development, from less to more, from low to high, from inanimate to animate. This is not only Charles Darwin, but also Carl-Friedrich Hegel. This is not a good idea in the 21st century as it closes us off from great parts of reality. I think we should just stay modest and accept the place that is given to us, accept our limitations, and also accept the responsibility that goes with us being rational beings, aware of ourselves and our environment, in admiring for the beautiful cosmos, everything that is, that there for us to research, to investigate, to transform, .

Answer 6

You proved Our "superiority" when You showed that Humans can communicate complex ideas from one of us to another.

Answer 7

Animals can't do what we do. Dogs don't work 9:00 to 5:00, support themselves nor Nobel Peace Prizes.

Answer 8

Many of them still believe what the bible says: that gOD gave man dominion over the animals. We are just another animal species!

Answer 9

why....did your dog develope the internet? if you dont like being a human, see if you can start over as something else...in your next life....see ya ............ and explain what Justin means by "no species wants to admit they are inferior" What other species besides human has he asked?

Answer 10

Intelligence.