Atheists: Tough Question?

Question

If some mentally disabled people are less intelligent than Koko the Gorilla, do you consider Koko to be 'more human' than they are?

The underlying consideration here is whether or not atheists seen logical perception or homo sapien genetics as the criteria for whom they respect and whom they don't.

Answer 1

Having a mental disability does not make one less human, just as having an unusually high intelligence does not make a gorilla human, but I think I get your point. Which one is deserving of greater respect? That's a very fair and difficult question. I would answer that both are deserving of dignity and respect, but I have to agree with J.P. If I could only save one from a burning building, I would have to choose Koko, as Koko has the greater potential to contribute to our understanding of humanity and our body of knowledge about the world.

By the way, it's Homo sapiens, never homo sapien. The "s" does not indicate plurality in this case.

Answer 2

A gorilla is not "human." A mentally disabled person is human. That is a matter, in my opinion, of genetics. "Human" is being used here to denote the species of which we are a part. Personhood is a different matter entirely (although of course I believe a mentally disabled person is still in possession of "personhood," I'd have to think a bit about my stance on dear Koko).

As for "respect" - I respect animals that are not humans. I also think Koko did a great service in teaching us that we are not the most spectacularly special creatures in the whole universe.

Answer 3

Koko would not be 'more human', as her genetics are simply not that.

However, given the choice, I'd assist Koko with leaving a burning building over the disabled human. Simply put, Koko would, in such a situation, have greater moral potential.

Sucks, but true.

Answer 4

I consider Koko to be more intelligent than your "mentally disabled" person (you said so yourself)
I respect the mentally disabled
I respect Koko
I respect Koko's intelligence
I don't respect you (not because of this "intelligent" question, but because I know nothing about you)

What was your question again? ....why do I have to make something human in order to respect it? I respect my stapler, but it's neither intelligent or living. However I do know it quite well and it never let's me down.

Answer 5

I understand the first part of your question. My answer is no, Koko, no matter how much smarter, is not more human than a human.

I haven't a clue where you're going with your theory, but that's ok. So long as you understand it, I guess.

Answer 6

No. A Human is a Human and a Gorilla is a Gorilla. Dogs arent cats or vice versa are they?

Answer 7

This is supposed to be "tough"? Your whole argument falls apart with your perception of what "logic" is.

Logic is a systematic path of thought, not a weight by which you measure things. What is labeled as "human" or not is based on science, not the ability, or lack thereof, of the brain to function at a certain level. Please attend some real classes in logic, grammar and science and such before you lob this kind of question at us... it's not helping your agenda.

_()_

Answer 8

If my dog can climb trees and my cat cant that doesn't make my cat more like a dog and vice versa. People are people..theres obviously a huge difference between humans and animals....retarded or not...

Im not sure what this has to do with athiest but you are obvioulsy one very confused individual.

Answer 9

Homo sapien genetics, and quite frankly, I found this question to be not only silly, but bordering on condescending.

Answer 10

Yeah, uh, you sound smart...want a banana?

Atheism generally means you don't believe in God. But Atheists do believe in human dummies and monkeys.