Man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much... the wheel, New York, wars, and so on, whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely the dolphins believed themselves to be more intelligent than man for precisely the same reasons. - So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish
"Special?"
I don't know what that means in this context?
Does it mean we have the right to destroy forests, habitats for thousands of species, so we can keep expanding like a tumor in the biosphere?
If that's the case: No. We are not special.
Does it mean we choose to care for the sick and disabled, as opposed to killing them or letting them die, the way nonhuman animals do? If that's the case: Yes. We are special.
Does it mean needing to eat, breathe and spawn? No. Not special.
Does it mean being able to know what is happening mathematically at the far end of the universe, or being able to ponder the infinite? Yes. Special.
Does it mean mortality? Not special.
Does it mean awareness of mortality? Special.
Does it mean knowing fear? Not special.
Does it mean being able to produce something like the Sistine Chapel, or better yet, contribute to a website like KMC? Special. Very special.
Originally posted by Lana
To quote Agent Smith from the Matrix: "Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet."And it's true. We destroy our surroundings so that we can live, and once it's too ruined, people usually move on to a new area. The only other thing that does that is a virus.
Are you implying that animals are superior to viruses?
Originally posted by Echuu
yes but the fact that we have the intelligence to make weapons to defend ourselves from these animals and defeat them has to count for something.
Not really. Because we are using our assets. As a bear uses it's claws and teeth, we use our brain. That makes us smarter. That does not make us superior.
Originally posted by Echuu
And it's not just intelligence.. what about creativity, love etc.
Other species have exhibited love and creativity. I will admit it is a limited creativity, but there are examples of creativity and problem solving in the animal kingdom.
Also, many animals have exhibited the ability to form emotional attachements. In fact, other animals that do that often show more loyalty as a species than humans are capable of showing. Does that not make them superior to us by your own thinking?
Originally posted by Lana
To quote Agent Smith from the Matrix: "Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet."And it's true. We destroy our surroundings so that we can live, and once it's too ruined, people usually move on to a new area. The only other thing that does that is a virus.
That being said, and I agree with that that, Is it OK to assume that:
The less humans on the planet =
The less consumption =
The longer the resources will last =
Wars and killings are justified for the sake of the humans race longevity on the earth.
This has been on my mind for a long time so I am wondering really if the human progress on this planet has contributed to our environment's retrogression hence a potential effect that can kill us and the rest of the animals off.
Originally posted by KharmaDog
Not really. Because we are using our assets. As a bear uses it's claws and teeth, we use our brain. That makes us smarter. That does not make us superior.Other species have exhibited love and creativity. I will admit it is a limited creativity, but there are examples of creativity and problem solving in the animal kingdom.
Also, many animals have exhibited the ability to form emotional attachements. In fact, other animals that do that often show more loyalty as a species than humans are capable of showing. Does that not make them superior to us by your own thinking?
Fine... we suck and animals are better than us. 😱
It seems to me that some people treat animals like they have no feelings and no value in their lives. I believe that this is because of an arrogant point of view that animals are below us with no souls. IMO animals are equal as far as value and life or soul. But that means we have to change the way we treat animals, and I don’t think that is going to happen any time soon.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It seems to me that some people treat animals like they have no feelings and no value in their lives. I believe that this is because of an arrogant point of view that animals are below us with no souls. IMO animals are equal as far as value and life or soul. But that means we have to change the way we treat animals, and I don’t think that is going to happen any time soon.
I don't see a contradiction in believing animals are equal and treating them like shit.
If people place more value in claws and fangs and fur and surviving "on your own" in an enviroment then animals must be better assuming my comment is true.
However that said extinction for humans is obviously possible but we are more adaptable and able to survive much more with our ability to "reason." So if thats your biggest piece then humans are above animals. If not then I never understood why humans would stop from eating each other as we are our own weakest prey...........seriously a little kid or a deer.............who knows.....
Originally posted by soleran30
However that said extinction for humans is obviously possible but we are more adaptable and able to survive much more with our ability to "reason." So if thats your biggest piece then humans are above animals.
If that's the prerequisite,m survival that is, then rats and coxkroaches are far above humans.
The point of the thread seems to be getting lost. I am not asking whether people are better, equal or worse than animals, I am asking whether you believe humans ARE or ARE NOT animals as discussed in the first post.