What REALLY separates us from the animals?

Question

This question has been asked before, and the top differences between humanity and lesser species were: Capacity for logic/reason, sentience/self-awareness, capacity for faith, awareness of mortality, and the development of tools. I would argue that if not a majority, at least a significant minority of humans do not possess all or any of these traits.

We believe that because we are "aware", even when vast numbers of our species commit "animalistic" acts - often in the name of faith, using tools and rendering mortality an intangible phenomenon - we are still above other species because we have invented our own existence and can give thoughtful consideration to the ways and reasons why we murder, war, rape, steal, and consistently make illogical and unreasonable choices and ways of living speciewide. So, what do you suppose truly separates us from 'the animals'?

Answer 1

Elephants and whales have larger brains than us. Elephants are known to hold funeral rituals for their relatives. They also have sort of "conventions" where huge number of elephants gather, traveling long distances, apparently for social reasons.

I've read in New Scientist magazine that chimps have expressed empathy, in terms of helping a person reach an object, with no obvious benefit for them doing so, and no training for them to help in that way. The best explanation for why a chimp would do this is it knows how the person is feeling, and helps them from pity/empathy. Some primates develop much faster, especially in terms of being able to solve physical puzzles, up to the age of about three or four.

I recall a television news program (not sure which one) where a chimp is shown a model of a room, and a food item is hidden inside the model where in the same place it is hidden in an identical but larger real room. Despite using random locations, the chimps quickly learn to use the model to know where the food will be in the real room. Other animals such as dogs were clueless as to what the model was about. In any case, this demonstrates that chimps have the ability to think in abstract ways.

I also recall another story (don't remember source, but I'm sure there are multiple) of a gorilla who knew about 200 sign language symbols and would "speak" basic 2-word sentences with the language. His/her favorite topic was food.

Dolphins probably all know more than 200 words, though they obviously speak their own languages. They are also known to have bullied for fun. I can't recall the source, but one dolphin apparently committed suicide in captivity. I guess while some dolphins are happy in captivity, others are not!

We have higher intelligence than all other animals, but only generally after a certain age. For dolphins, my bet is placed on the age of five, though I don't know of any studies.

So, there is nothing that makes humans fundamentally superior to other animals.

Answer 2

I probably say it way to often in my judgemental mind, and outloud actually, Humans are animals twisted out of control by their ability for abstract thinking. I have enjoyed reading the answers to this question, they affirm so much for me.

Humans in all of their evolutionary process have almost done their utmost best to prove what animals we are with our king of the hill thinking.........but pretty soon we wont be around cuz one of these days we will kill ourselves off trying to be the top dog. So whatever it is that separates us I hope will get us to see that we need to get along before we arent around to get along.

I think that the Human race is amazing and that what we have accomplished on this earth is awesome, I mean look at all of us communicate instantly all over this earth, it amazes me. But I believe, (and this is where things get a little fuzzy for me because I keep not being believed, told I am crazy by many actually, so I might be wrong), that our intolerance of the truth of our true animalism (no god) is what separates us from the animals. (without a doubt, way hard to follow, sorry). S


I wanted to add something to the comment about humans caging other animals but not humans. Have you seen the prison population, in California alone I think that it is the main source of income from taxation of humans. Do you have any idea how many people are locked up for growing/possessing a natural herb to this planet and the worst thing it causes is an overweight society and some relaxed people and we already have that as it were, at least the obesity, so tell me humans are not caged by humans...BTW I have not been to prison/jail for pot or any other crime.


that we do not accept that there is no god was my answer btw

edited: to the commentor that stated nothing really does separate us, I wanted to mention that there is also, not our ability to communicate, but our ability to mass communicate through written and spoken language we study all of the other species and our own, and it is to my, albeit limited, understanding that we are the only species that do study other species for reasons other than food, shelter, and safety. I mean a lot of your sources were mass communication.

Answer 3

Well the obvious answer would be that we are a distinct species and as such are different then other animals. We have cognition but other animals especially chimpanzees also have cognitive abilities. In fact chimpanzees are known to create spears and this a cultural memeing not auto-pilot instinctive creation like birds building nests.

As far as war goes animals do fight wars on a small scale chimpanzees will kill chimpanzees from other group when they come into each others territories.

War, Murder, Rape, do not seem to separate humans from the animal kingdom as this behavior is exhibited all the time.

The things that separate us from the animal kingdom is our capacity to learn and apply our knowledge, the high level of reciprocal altruism, the level of memeing, and we are the only ones who believe in god.

Answer 4

My answers are based on my own observations over the years... not anything I was ever taught as a child. I was once taught about why humans are "above" animals... but I'm not really so sure. Here is how we differ:

Humans suppress their natural instincts.
Humans amass and value material possessions.
Humans misguide their young by teaching them to value unnatural or supernatural phenomena such as Santa Claus, the Tooth fairy and other unmentionables.
Humans kill for reasons unrelated to food, mating or self-protection.
Humans seek to use and create substances to alter their consciousness and render them unable to function effectively.
Humans burn things and explode things.
Humans destroy their environment.
Humans punish each other for communicating ideas they disagree with.
Humans demonstrate arrogance.

Conversely, traditionally "humanistic" qualities have definitely been shown in some animals: caring for sick, using tools, reasoning, self-sacrifice for others, capacity to love, devotion to other species, and... in my opinion as a pet owner, awareness.

Answer 5

There is a lot we have in common with the critters. the one thing the critters don't have is money. I know that's an overly simplified answer, but when you think about, animals do not engage in trade.

Humans are the only creature to attatch and abstract value onto a product, or an idea. Animals do not bring ideas from their mind into this reality.

Unless trained to behave in a certain manner, animals have no sense of law. To them, there is no right or wrong. They are therefore innocent of the immorality that we plauge our own self about. Animals don't have morality, because they can not practice virtues. Virtues are the underpinning of morality, and not rules and regulations. Animals do not have a set of morals or codes of ethics.

Answer 6

Well, not much old bean except the capacity for laughter, abstract thinking, creation of art, building, a system of laws, a concept of values, morals and ethics and responsibility to ourselves and others. Many humans disregard all of the above and are less than the animals. There are mammals that have better brains than we do, Dolphins are one example. Do not denegrate all of us, some of us really do care. I happen to be one of them. Blessings on you.

Answer 7

A greater variety of communications. We can ask and answer questions on Yahoo. And we can create Yahoo.

Answer 8

i think the difference between men and animal is knowing the difference between right and wrong eg a mother dog will tell her puppys to do every thing to survive but a human mother will tell her child to do the right thing even thou it is not the best thing to do or it will effect them.

Answer 9

The author PK Dick said it was empathy -- that only humans could exhibit empathy.

However I disagree. I think that what separates us from animals is that only humans wage war for no damn good reason. Pax - C

Answer 10

the fact that they are really hairy,live outside ,and cant talk our language pretty much separates us