What exactly makes humans the dominant life form?

Question

If you removed humans from the world, there would be a definite change, but the world wouldn't really break up.

If we can use the word 'life form' to be so broad that it can be applied to trees, or worms, or many other organisms, than we can come up with things that have a much greater effect on the world.

Answer 1

Other answerers perhaps are not understanding your question.

I believe I do. We may lay claim to being the dominant life form, but trust me we are vastly outnumbered by something as simple as insects.

If we think we dominate, then that is the human ego speaking.

Answer 2

Yet another example of the selfish, bastard child of previously noble feminism ideals: "neo-feminism". They've learned that they can just step over people, demand whatever they want and get it. In this case they just want equal attention in a particular field. Women should be encouraged into any field just as well as any man but if they don't make the cut then that's too bad. It's the same case with the police and their gender and race quotas. The reason the tall, well-toned caucasians have been preferred is because they are better at enforcing the law, there are exceptions but this is how things are. Sports are a reasonable exception. We watch sports for the competitiveness. The speed of the winner is less important than his victory against others. Would the quickest sprinter in the world running a one-man race make for good entertainment? Women competing in separate events uses the same rationale as having weight classes in boxing. In life, it is not a competition in the same sense as sport, it is just used as a testing method, such as in a job interview, where the winner is chosen because he has more to offer the employer. In other words, it is simply a means to a different end instead of being an end in itself. All these special rights that only exist for women are the result of the current zeitgeist we live under.

Answer 3

Greater effect in what way? Humans modify their immediate environment moreso than any other member of the animal kingdom. We are at the top of the food chain. Trees and plankton may be more critical to oxygen cycles and ecosystems, but they get cut down and eaten, respectively.

Because of developments such as planes, boats and spacecraft, we aren't constrained by geographical boundaries that limit the migration of other life forms- well, I suppose you've got a point. Although we build the transport mechanisms, other life forms do hitch rides- look at the killer bees.

I suppose an argument could be made for bacteria or viruses being the "dominant" life forms from a certain perspective, but they don't construct cities.

Answer 4

I agree with Univee. We only think we are "all that and a bag of chips". When humanity is gone, whether by fire or by ice, the cockroaches will survive and thrive. Then insects will be the dominant ones. People are all so busy dominating and subduing the earth that soon there will be nothing left to subdue and domate. That's pretty dumb.

Answer 5

we are the dominant life form cause unfortunately, we are the only ones that can build. Then turn around and burn things down or shoot things up.

Answer 6

Our belief that we are.

Whether or not that belief is factually true is another matter entirely. We are certainly not the most prolific, nor the strongest, fastest, or individually deadly. We do adapt well, and quickly.

Answer 7

I would suggest that it would be our faculties of logic and reason. The very fact that you and I and can have this discussion I think demonstrates a certain dignity.

Answer 8

well our brains are the most complex of the worlds. And we are problem solvers little other animals or species have tht ability.

Answer 9

we are the only known life form which has the potential to destroy all life on Earth.

Answer 10

God blessed the first male and female, and told them to "be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the eath, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."