Are humans really superior to all animals in all respects?

Question

The question is about the perceived sense of superiority of the human beings. Are we really the best built creatures? Do we have the best of love, compassion and life as a whole? Is it only because we are far superior intelligence that we demand superiority in all respect?

Answer 1

There are so many aspects to your excellent question... I think the key is your statement "...perceived sense of superiority..."

Time and time again, we humans pound our chests and proclaim we are the superior beings for intelligence. Yes, we are fairly smart. We created the industrial revolution and one of the shortest climate eras on earth. We have caused more change to the climate since 1800 than any event has in the same, short time - period.

I believe we are more conscious of love but we are not the best at caring for those we love. Thus, we are not very good at compassion either.

I think your last question rhetorical. However, it is very true. We proclaim ourselves as the masters of the earth because we are so smart. That posturing keeps us pretty busy; so much so we are not seeing what we are really here for!

Answer 2

Hardly...

To begin with, we're the only creatures that give a damn about whether we're "superior" in some abstract sense.

The closest thing to it in the animal kingdom is a predator who assesses its prey. The hyena does not attack the healthy lion, but it may try to eat the disabled lion.

But I don't think the lion believes it is a "better" creature because it can eat the hyena.

We (all living things) are what we are and we function in our own unique way. There's no need to surmise a pecking order.

The lion can eat me, if I'm available and he's hungry (unless I have a gun). Neither is superior. Opportunistic?... maybe, but not superior.

Answer 3

I think that humans are superior, but only in one particular way. Unfortunately for our planet and all other animals, we evolved to the point that we've become the strongest to survive. We have higher intelligence, which makes us better survivors. But that's where it ends. Our senses have diminished in strength, our loyalty and instincts just simply disappeared. Our physical strength is in question now (a whole new topic). So, maybe we'll be the last species to become extinguished, but that's the only advantage that we have now over all other animals, or it may even be an disadvantage.

Answer 4

I think that once people realize and respect that we are not superior to any other species on the planet, and that all species have their place and part in making this world function effectively, then we may be able to save this earth. Some say that we have superior intelligence, but who's to say that we even have that. We have an intelligence that is different then most creatures, in that we can learn and apply that knowledge to better ourselves, and find alternative solutions to problems that arise. But who's to say that that makes us superior? Sometimes it seems that our intelligence makes us inferior. That we are too intelligent for our own good. Sometimes we act in self serving ways in pursuit of our own selfish desires and destroy whatever is in our way, including the innocent. I think that having the capacity to perform selfless acts, is the reason why (if you believe the Bible) God gave Adam and mankind dominion obver the earth. But the horrible senseless acts of violence, and the disregard for anyone except oursleves when in pursuit of our desires, in a sense, makes humans inferior to the other creatures on our planet.

Answer 5

A superior species does not foul the nest. We may be smart in some respects, but we're not superior. A superior species does not directly or indirectly cause the extinction of other species, nor does it kill on a massive scale.

We've got the opposable thumb thing going for us, I guess. And I can't think of another species that has doctors in their midst. But many species offer compassion.

Answer 6

Human beings only THINK that we're superior to all other animals. But we're not. Humans suffer from jealousy, hatred, anger, ignorance and many other horrible emotions. Animals don't kill each other because one tiger has different colored stripes or because one buffalo doesn't believe in the same "god" as the other.

Humans kill for sport (hunting). Humans kill because we're ignorant and judgemental. Wars are fought because one group of humans doesn't agree with another group of humans. You don't see animals killing each other because of stupid things like that.

Animals kill other animals to survive. The tiger kills the gazelle to feed herself and her babies. Not just because that gazelle looks different.

Animals have a pure, innocent love towards their own. They don't judge each other, they don't hate each other. Many animals live in groups, considered families. Many humans don't even like their own families, let alone other humans.

Regarding intelligence...I don't think humans are necessarily smarter than other animals. Humans have opposable thumbs, which puts us higher on the food chain, so to speak. Also, animals are instinctual. When is the last time a human actually listened to their instinct? We've lost that ability. It's been taught out of us.

So, I know, without a shadow of a doubt that animals are vastly superior to humans. Humans are just too proud and far too arrogant to notice.

Answer 7

Our brain power is superb, but otherwise we're not cut out for survival. We have virtually no body hair, no thick skin or adapting body temps, no built-in defense like claws or razor sharp teeth. We have the intelligence to build super computers and nuclear weapons but can't seem to figure out how to advance without destroying our Earth.
So, no, I don't think we're superior. My cat communicates better than some humans I know.

Answer 8

The only area we are superior in is intellect which is not always used for the betterment of mankind.

Animals kill for food or to protect themselves. Humans are the only ones that kill for pleasure, greed, or self satisfaction.

Animals can provide unconditional love and loyalty whereas not many human beings do.

Answer 9

Humans are superior to animals. We used them for transportation, war,(Horses) Entertainment (The Zoo) And even culture.(Cows, Sheep, etc...) As far as the best built, in our minds yes because we have not discovered anything that surpasses our knowledge. And no we do not have the best emotions. Look at the things we do sometimes. Lastly, we abuse superiority in regards of certain things and elements.

Answer 10

Intelligence is a quality just like any other beneficial trait. There is nothing however that makes us inherently superior to any other species.