I'm looking for serious answers ... a definition would be perfect (and who wrote it) ... also, it would be great if you could give me some links where I could find information about this.
at this point, I believe it was when they started changin nature accordin to their needs ... but I'm not sure.
please, help!
2007-07-07 23:55:30 · 20 answers · asked by tricky 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Dr, I do trust you, but .. it wuold help a lot if you could tell me what the definition was? I don't have a book now, and I can't find info online.
2007-07-08 00:23:20 · update #1
It is simply our sentient conscious knowledge of our own mortality. This is not the uneasy feeling and revulsion that one feels when confronted by our own dead, all animals above a certain evolutionary level feel that. I am talking about the conscious sentient acknowledgment of your own eventual demise.
J.J. Rousseau said this many times in his writings and Hobbs mentions it in Leviathan.
Since their times, know philosophers or scientist have been able to break this answer apart because the only way to ascertain the answer is to imagine the animals as complete equals physically, strip humanity of its technology and them see what we perceive that other animals can not.
2007-07-08 05:00:38 · answer #1 · answered by Shai Shammai 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
What most people haven't mentioned (Or atleast, I haven't seen on this particular question) is that Humans are the only species, known as of now, that actually WANT to know more about their origins, the laws of the universe and how everything around them works. It's why we've made such huge strides in every single field in a very short period of time compared to other animal species'. Yeah, they're not the only ones who are capable of reasoning and smart enough to use equipment. Apes, monkeys, dolphins, Manatees, otters, beavers etc. exhibit this aswell, but they are the only ones who, atleast what we know of, try to ponder on their origins or how their digestive system works or make of theories and assumptions about various things. If that were the case, mermaids, in a way, would be real as Dolphins would attempt to converse with Humans to try and understand what happens above water which would eventually lead to them understanding English or atleast some sort of human language and this would result in an explosive advancement of both the dolphin and human race leading to mermaids in the most crude form as Dolphins would begin to exhibit more and more human qualities. All in all, the thing that separates humans from animals is that humans are greedy animals that want to know everything and take it for themselves. We're the worst kind of animals.
2016-05-21 03:29:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of these answers make assumptions but, sadly, they are the same kind of assumptions that many scientists make.
How do you know that animals can't recognise their own reflection?
How do you know that animals have no concept of morality or mortality?
Where on earth did the myth come from that animals can't mate for fun?
Animals don't tend to murder their own species outside of their own family.
Animals are incapable of creating anything anywhere near as ambitious and complicated as humans- eg architecture.
Animals lifespans are shorter on average.
2007-07-08 03:10:06 · answer #3 · answered by _Picnic 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Desmond Morris, "The Human Ape."
What defines us from animals is the fact that we can plan our future. Animals, like elephants for example, can remember where sources of food are located. Birds build nests. beavers build lodges. All these behaviours are instinctive, passed down from one generation to the next. Humans can retain knowledge and build on that. History warns us of the mistakes we've made, so planning becomes a natural part of the human sic.
2007-07-08 00:10:53 · answer #4 · answered by Old Man of Coniston!. 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The capability of higher reasoning, and the use of tools are the two biggest differences that define a human as opposed to an animal.
Sorry, I don't have a specfic source.
2007-07-08 10:09:41 · answer #5 · answered by rohak1212 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have a more advanced society and generally more civilised one. When I say advanced I mean in fields such as science, arts (such as literature), technology, etc. I think that this is the biggest difference.
Hope this helps, good luck and great question! (^_^)
2007-07-08 00:07:07 · answer #6 · answered by ???? 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We fight our basic instincts and desires... It's called "Fitting in with civilization"...
And the fact that we consider ourselves the pinnacle species... (But in some cases, I disagree with that)
2007-07-08 05:04:08 · answer #7 · answered by Todd C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our increased ability to process information, the size of our brain, inventiveness and language is what makes us different. Because of this we have evolved into the animal that we are....
2007-07-08 00:00:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Two things make humans different from other animals:
knowledge of the concept of good and evil
awareness of our own mortality
2007-07-08 00:35:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Most animals copulate to reproduce - not just for pleasure. Most animals kill to eat or protect their young.
Man alone is the perfect beast.
2007-07-08 02:55:19 · answer #10 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋