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 Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:26 am
-Intelligence?
-Imagination?
-Ability to Empathize?
-We do things because we can, for pleasure, just because we want to know ect.
Example - measuring weight of the earth Vs. dog getting food off table
-Looking at yourself from an outside perspective?
-"Seeing the big picture?"
-Something else? I'm not going to say anything about any of these, that's up to you.
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:20 pm
Simple.
Anatomy. It all breaks down to anatomy.
Humans do share common ancestors with some animals, but the most striking of adaptations human beings have manifested if their brains. Now many may say, "a brain is not an adaptation," but any structure and the nature of its function in an organism is the product of some sort of adaptation. The nature of our brain and what makes it better than that of a lot of animals has to do with two primary factors: size and shape. The brain's measurable size in mL in comparison to the size of the body is a fairly good indication of intelligence of the species in comparison to our ancestors and animals present day that share common ancestors.
So clearly humans have some very interesting equipment. It is theorized that humans are the only communicating, intelligent species, but I personally feel otherwise. There are chimpanzees who can communicate quite fluently with sign language. They also share a common ancestor with human beings. Dogs grow to perhaps not understand language but they understand cues, which is still a sign of communication and understanding. They know how to tell what the human wants so they will later be rewarded. Animals are definitely thinking creatures.
I also believe animals have imagination, and they might also be able to empathize. I know that my cat dreams, and I also know that my cat plays. My cat also immediately came to me after my surgery, and perhaps she just wanted some attention, but I found it pretty amazing that as soon as I was in my bed she was on my lap. Also, when I am upset my cat will come to my side and give me her attention. I think my cat understands a lot about human feelings because when someone is upset in the house, she'll usually come to me.
Humans do seem to have one thing most animals don't have; self-awareness and consciousness of one's self. Animals look in the mirror and think it's another animal; or at least this is how they appear to react. Dogs chasing their own tail is a good sign of how animals don't seem to be so aware of themselves.
I personally don't think many humans see "the big picture" even though they have the ability too. What a waste of a perfectly good human brain (and how very INTJ of me to say).
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:30 pm
There have actually been studies on people with greatly reduced brain mass, for whatever reason, it was smaller, and there have been some geniuses that had very little brain tissue.
I maintain that the difference is that humans have opposable thumbs. ^.^ (okay, there is more than that, but it is more important than it seems).
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:23 pm
20% of our energy is consumed by our brain.
There must have been a huge evolutionary advantage to us having a bigger brain O.O
You know they say all babies have to go through a stage where they have to understand that their mum is separate to them? As in, not a part of them?
All animals are sociopaths >.> Okay, so they might realise people are seperate but I don't think they are fully aware that other people, animals are as fully alive and conscious as them. It's more like they're playing a video game...
And because they don't really comprehend that, they can't step back and see themselves as an observer or ask questions outside themselves such as "Where do I go when I die?" or "What are the stars made of?"
Or maybe to rephrase the question to make it easier.. because I personally don't think anatomy or intelligence count although the anatomy makes for the intelligence and the intelligence makes for the things I mentioned as well as other things.
"What make humans humans, separate to animals? The ability to see ourselves as humans or ask ourselves that question? ...Anything?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:08 pm
Abstract thought, I'd say. We can philosophise. We can theorise. We can discuss the unseeable and unprovable.
Language is also a big divide, though the lines are a bit fuzzy there, as it's clear that apes, at least, are capable of some language.
Oh, and art. Yes, elephants and monkeys and dolphins can have fun with paints, and many creatures have at least some capacity for something like imagination, but I believe only intelligent creatures are capable of deliberately producing art and appreciating it as such. It's something very unique to us - not directly related to survival, but enjoyed for the sake of beauty and meaning. Perhaps that's linked to the abstract thought again.
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