How can anbody watch a troupe of gorillas, or a pride of lions interacting and not see that they?

Question

show the same emotions, social relationships, and ability to think that humans do, though maybe not to the same degree? Watching an old tiger after a missed hunt will show you that it is well aware that it will die, and doesn't want to. All of the characteristics that makes humans "human" are displayed in nature to a greater or lesser degree. What makes anyone think that humans have a "spirit" or "soul" but animals do not?

Answer 1

We do have self awareness (as do some higher functioning animals). Along with this, in our case anyway, comes a superiority complex.

People don't want to admit we're basically hairless apes.

I'm OK with that

Answer 2

What isn't evidenced as well is animals being able to perform two actives of thought, One is to discover universal scientific truths, that are not apparent in the physical sensory area, by reasoning; the second, is to make a moral judgment against their natural inclinations without training, except of self analysis/reflection.

Most humans scarcely show this moral or scientific quality, but this does not so much prove that animals are equal to human potential, as it shows that humans rarely excel animal intelligence as a matter of categories - that is why it's called the mark of the beast, you can be an evil-genius, a very clever animal, and never show the type of intelligent character that would indicate a special place of humanity, perhaps the human qualities would be belied in some other personages...

Statistically human minds are about 75% "soft"-wired, while animals are about 75% hardwired... Meaning humans function at only about 1/4 capacity due to poor education of themselves, and lack of reasoning to overcome their natural stupidities of self-interest when we must now live globally to survive well as a species.

By the way, every living thing has a soul, by the ancient Greek definition, it being what is the invisible difference between life and death. I suspect you mean why are humans considered to have individual souls, and animals have souls according only to species.... Consider the range between the worst and greatest humans, and then do the same for animals. Animals express their greatness over human in physical area quite readily, but no singular species has the breadth of possible mental states, though if you take all species together they do show such a breadth...

Therefore I believe each human soul has the -potential- that every animals species can exert as far as intellect is concerned, but the animals expresses one intelligence kind, to a special, and often superior degree. Each one appearing as a meaning of one name/attribute of the originating universal truth, from which all is derived...

I agree with evolution, since it is required to have notable variation in time, of material, plant, animals, as well as the experience of good coming from surpassing previous limitations of thought by individuals etc.

God bless.

Answer 3

I really think that the reason some people believe that humans have a soul while animals do not is arrogance, egocentricity and a false sense of superiroity. To them it is easier to say animals don't have a soul, don't feel as we do and cannot think like we do.. that way they are justified in killing these same animals or treating them with less respect than their fellow man. When I was having trouble supporting myself I had to go on social assistance, I have 3 dogs and 4 cats who are to me my family, my children in love if not in flesh. I mentioned that I had these animals under my guardianship and asked if I would be able to get more money needed to feed them. They told me that I should get rid of them and take care of myself, I told them they were my family and that was not an option.. the woman at the counter said they were just "animals".. I replied that humans are animals too and that the care of any animal is a lifetime commitment. She said and I quote "Humans are NOT animals" I told her then that I would just go without myself to feed them because "getting rid of" my family members was not something I would ever do. I really don't think she understood, and I really truly believe that people like her are part of what is wrong with our society today. People who don't think animals feel or deserve what respect we humans do are less than worthy themselves. I know if I had given my dogs and cats away they would have suffered terrible heartbreak and so would I.. there is no doubt in my mind that they feel just as I do and that they think all on their own about things maybe not the same as I do but close enough. I know they have personalities of their own, thoughts of their own and feelings of their own.. I see it every day. I have seen it in all kinds of animals.. horses, mice, birds, bears, deer and beavers.. all I have had experience with and all have shown great capacity of emotion and thought. I once saw a baby mouse fall from its nest.. the mother came right away and I placed the squeaking baby on the floor next to me, she came and picked it up and cradled it in her arms and licked it... How can that not be a mothers love? I had 2 beavers that I rescued and they followed us everywhere, went swimming with us and tugged on our pant legs for attention, whined when they wanted to be fed.. each of them had distinct individual personalities.. how can that not be a social relationship? A wild Chickadee allowed me to come right up to him and get him to perch on my finger, how can that not be proof of thought? He must have reasoned I was not a threat by my actions and so allowed me to hold him. Animals DO have feelings, animals DO think and animals DO have complex social interactions much like our own. I dont know if there is such a thing as a soul or spirit even in humans but I do know that if it exists animals have it too.. as well as personality, emotion, and thought... We are not so different for those who care to look with eyes wide open.

Answer 4

How true! "Anima" is the Latin word for "soul"

These animals have admirable species -specific intelligence and emotions and have survived in this way for thousands of years - hope Man"KIND" does not wipe them out.

As William Blake said:

Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?"
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The World, the Universe, and all its secrets are embodied in ALL of life.

Animals need not ponder the great questions of the Universe because THEY are part of the Answers.