2007-03-22 16:16:35 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
yes, humans are rational but so are apes. apes have a complex vocabulary and incredible problem solving skills, sense of inquiry among many other things that make them more similar to humans than many people think
oh, and all primates have opposable thumbs......
technically, we ARE animals. just more evolved and complex. animals actions are based more on instinct while humans can be compulsive and irrational..for ex, animals dont commit suicide....
humans also have are bipedal and are the only 'animal' capable of walking fully upright w/o putting stress on our bodies.
the main difference is obviously brain size. over time we have evolved to be able to support a larger brain than any other animal. this was because of the invention of control of fire which enabled us to cook meat which allowed for more nutrient absorption and provided more calories to support larger brains (the brain requires around 40% of calorie intake, depending on age)
lol too much info sorry you probably just wanted 1 simple answer!
2007-03-22 16:37:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Humans are a distinct from any other animal species, therefore we cannot interbreed with any other animal.
Animals can speak (whales, dolphins, gorillas, chimpanzees), although not in the same manner as humans. In fact, more animals comprehend human speech than humans comprehend animal speech, so by that measure animals are more intelligent. Also, humans have been unable to reproduce some other animal's technology, such as the specially rolled straws chimpanzees use to dig for termites.
There are lots of negative factors that distinguish humans - in particular our impact on other species and on planetary ecology.
An interesting fact about humans is that our tools, such as language, thought and technology almost seem to have a life (and evolutionary capability) of their own. As far as we know we are the main instigators and sustainers of what has been called the 'noosphere'. We might, if we survive long enough, create our own evolutionary successor.
2007-03-22 23:22:31 · answer #2 · answered by Eclectic_N 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the factor that makes humans different from animals is humans have the ability to make choices animals are driven by pure instinct.
2007-03-23 00:06:58 · answer #3 · answered by Marla D 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont see any difference sometimes...in fact humans act like animals in a sense and dont make much sense either at times.
The overall difference is that we have the brain and body that allows us to do more than animals do...thats the diference i guess.
Its all about the brain and body and how we can use our hands and slove problems and create.
2007-03-22 23:23:20 · answer #4 · answered by spidercents123 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
from the things i see on the internet I say there is no difference between humans and animals
2007-03-22 23:20:34 · answer #5 · answered by stormyblythe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans mostly depend on something (robotics) or someone else to do their own chores. Animals tend to their own needs unless humans domesticate them.
Humans are Idiots.
Humans are Barbarians in dress.
Humans are Gorillas without hair.
Humans are Monkeys without brain.
Convincing enough?
2007-03-22 23:37:33 · answer #6 · answered by RexRomanus 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all, your question is grammatically incorrect... The correct question is: "What factor makes humans different FROM animals?" not "to."
The answer is rights. Humans have rights, and animals may have rights also. However, only humans can exercise their rights. Humans exercise their rights to life, liberty, speech, religion, etc., etc., but animals, while they may be alive, cannot "exercise" any rights. We, as humans, actually "enforce" or exercise an animal's rights, but they, themselves, cannot.
2007-03-22 23:46:23 · answer #7 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
It is my opinion that there is no difference.
We value human life above any other species because we are able to communicate with one another.
Because of our intelligent design, we have been able to create technology to put us above other animal groups in the world. Before the increase in our technology, we were on the same playing feild as other dominant species.
If you look at parts of southern India, much of the tribal land is still dominated by tigers who prey on humans. In that particular culture, humans are not the dominant species.
The point is that all species are different...have different ways of communicating with one another and contribute to the world overall very differently.
2007-03-22 23:21:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Humans are supposedly rational.
2007-03-22 23:21:14 · answer #9 · answered by sokrates 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people have a thought proscess and a soul, animals act on animal instinct for survival and domesticated animals do mostly what they are trained to do
2007-03-22 23:22:37 · answer #10 · answered by thebarber909 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋