Homosapiens vs Animals

[Garnet]

Homosapiens vs Animals part 1

Humans claim to have been created by their GOD-GODS. God is perfect, therefore, we too must be perfect? People aren’t the only life on this planet. And they aren’t perfect either.

Somewhere on the evolutionary scale, life began with 2 cells, that eventually parts of the aquatic world changed, walked on land. Lost it’s tail. Became mouth breathers. Each creature, as it climbed the evolutionary ladder, changed. They became bigger and adapted to their ever changing environments.

Somewhere, a split occurred and a new species evolved. Etc.Etc.

When the Homoerectis and Homosapians developed, the ladder split again and more species evolved. Like a tree, as it grows it shoots out new branches.

We aren’t the only learned cr eatures on this earth. both animals and humans belong to the same kingdom Animalia . Humans came directly from animals. The same way animals evolved the humans did too. The two share some similarities.

The main difference between animals and humans is that animals are primarily driven by instincts but they cannot reason while humans yes, are driven by instincts but can reason.

Humans have the ability to think critically, communicate complex ideas, and create intricate societies, while animals rely more on instinct and natural behaviors to navigate their environments.

Animals vs. Humans - What's the Difference? | This vs. That

[georgia]

@Garnet

animals are primarily driven by instincts but they cannot reason

Forgive me, but I beg to differ with the scientists on this one. I have seen a canary imagine a wall built over an electrical cord and defend that wall which no one else could see. I have watched a finch make a choice. I have seen a dog blush and a cat apologize. I have witnessed a crow reacting in haughty disgust as though it had deigned to be nice and was proven a superior being simply because the other species didn’t respond “properly.”

The scientists we seem to trust do not speak the same language as the animals they propose to understand so well. Just because someone doesn’t speak the same language we do, it doesn’t mean they don’t think or feel or understand.

What makes us different? In my humble opinion, personal experience and how our bodies work. We humans have been trained from little up that certain experiences are “real” and others “imaginary,” that we share certain things and do not share others. This is our culture, not our intelligence level. Scientists say “prove it,” but sometimes they refuse to accept what is right in front of them.

Sorry if this comes across as preachy. I believe in the awareness and reactions of supposedly “inanimate” and inhuman objects. That’s just me. Anyone can believe anything they choose.

[Garnet]

It’s been a long time since I’ve had people
challenge some of my views.
This was invigorating .
Indeed, animals are very intuitive and their senses are much
more developed than ours.
Thanks everyone
blessedd be
Garnet

[dan3]

Humans are pretty full of themselves sometimes. We are apex mammals but we are still in the same chain of life. The energy that surrounds us belongs to all.

[Feathertip]

That was an interesting read - thank you for posting and sharing the link, @Garnet!

I noticed right off that there is no author attributed to the linked article on the “thisvsthat” website - so, I can’t say anything against scientists, per se. It could be that the person who wrote this has a quite a bit of scientific knowledge, but drew different conclusions from simple data. (That is something which is known to happen - data is raw and usually a dry read, but data can be looked at in ways that lead people to reach various conclusions. This is why there’s a joke about how many answers there are to a scientific question depends on how many scientists there are in the room!)

I do agree with @georgia about this part (copied & pasted): However, humans have a more complex emotional range and are capable of experiencing emotions such as guilt, shame, and pride, which are not commonly observed in animals.

I’ve absolutely seen dogs look guilty when caught stealing food (driven by instinct to eat the easy meal), and shame when hanging head-down getting scolded by their human. And who hasn’t laughed at a prancing pooch at a dog show? All dressed up, brushed, etc., - they’re lookin’ good and they know it!

I’d also say (not to nitpick) that each species use both verbal and non-verbal ways to communicate - but it is clear that the complexity of communication goes deeper with homo sapiens.

@Garnet

Humans have the ability to think critically, communicate complex ideas, and create intricate societies, while animals rely more on instinct and natural behaviors to navigate their environments.

This is only debatable when you consider what defines, say, an intricate society. I think bee hives are intricate. I also think the below-ground ant colonies, which are widespread and dug deep, protect their queen, etc., are intricate. Primates in the jungle have societies and communications that have been studied for decades, by scientists who remain fascinated by how developed they actually are.

And whether humans are successful communicators is likely the subject for another time.

This was interesting and thought-provoking - thanks again, @Garnet

[tracyS]

Interesting, and I love all your views. I have a more simplistic view on humans v animal and tend to view things in terms of legacy. For me, I feel the animal kingdom will long outlive the human kingdom despite our intricate complex nature or so say ability to reason. The animal kingdoms legacy is long- lasting and intune with the planet that nurtures them, we humans however, despite our higher intelligence seem to be leaving a legacy of disaster behind us, which if we don’t change course, nature will sort for us, perhaps putting us back at the beginning again, to re-learn any lessons. Just my view but I’m with the ants on this one. I think they’re amazing.

[georgia]

@Garnet

challenge some of my views.

Please understand, it wasn’t you I was challenging, but the scientists who trained us all. I’ve heard the mess ever since I was little, too. They grew up with the same stuff long before we were a gleam in Daddy’s eye.

It’s hard to find an original thinker in this line of thought, so it seems like people accept it just due to familiarity. Way back when, people were expected to blindly accept as “gospel truth” anything written just because it was written.

We’ve come a long way, baby! Yet our youths remain unaware of the difficulty we have had learning not to be so innocent and trusting, learning to listen to personal experience over prejudice (whether or not in the guise of science), and listening to those whom others refuse to hear.

[MeganB]

@tracyS

we humans however, despite our higher intelligence seem to be leaving a legacy of disaster behind us, which if we don’t change course, nature will sort for us, perhaps putting us back at the beginning again

I’d say this is probably because of human intelligence. We’re the only species that knowingly (and willingly) go against our better judgment and nature to create absurd practices and societies (like capitalism and complex government systems) to “better civilization” – but it all causes us to go against our fundamental nature as animals, putting us, as @dan3 said, at the top of the food chain.

I’ve often wondered what life could look like if we didn’t have all of these systems around us, constantly trading our time and bodies for pieces of paper that we have given worth, so we can pay for a roof over our head and food to eat. I know modern technology has given us amazing miracles such as modern medicine, renewable energy, and sanitation – but I often wonder what the cost of that is in the long run.

Anyway… exhausted ramblings from me

[Feathertip]

@MeganB - I like your ramblings - it’s an interesting discussion with everyone chiming in.

I’m also reminded that we humans are the only species that is aware of our ultimate death. This may explain a lot of our rabid (often thoughtless, careless) actions.

@georgia

it wasn’t you I was challenging, but the scientists who trained us all.

I most emphatically don’t blame scientists - they’re off doing scientific studies and tests - they’re not writing the textbooks that make their way into our schools.

Biology, geology, medicine - there’s so much to study and hypotheses to develop from those studies. It trickles from academia out to the public and somewhere, somehow, educators eventually take a look and decide what students get to see.

My own annoyance and pushback is directed at those who decide what and how much we get to learn. We already know our various histories are whitewashed so our countries always look like the best and smartest.

And now I’m seriously rambling on!

[MeganB]

@Feathertip

I’m also reminded that we humans are the only species that is aware of our ultimate death. This may explain a lot of our rabid (often thoughtless, careless) actions.

That’s also a really interesting concept that I haven’t really given a lot of deep thought. It’s very weird to me that humans have evolved in such a way that we are conscious of our own impending death, as you said. Maybe that’s where all of our systems have been born from—our fear of one day just not being here anymore.

I do often wonder what it would look like if civilization never developed the way that it did, and we instead had continued living like our nomadic ancestors or our Indigenous ancestors from wherever we’re from. I do know that we have many modern comforts, such as houses with heat and air conditioning, indoor plumbing, and the ability to cook things whenever we want, as well as the ability to go to a grocery store and pick up just about anything we need from anywhere in the world. But I think it’s also done a lot of harm to our connection to the world around us. We’re so disconnected from our food source, for example, that a lot of people don’t even know how to begin a garden or what to watch for when they’re growing their own food. Or, if they eat meat, how animals are processed and turned into something that we can consume for nutrition.

It’s something that I could probably spend my entire life thinking about and never have a true answer. I will admit that I very much enjoy the modern trappings of life—my house, the grocery store, and the ability to travel pretty much wherever I want if I can afford it—but I will always wonder what it would be like to live like my ancient ancestors and not have to worry about money and bills. Instead, I’d worry about survival, but also about being connected to the world around me.

I love that this discussion has opened up the conversation about what it means to be human in a world full of non-human, and non-physical, entities. It’s been so interesting to read everyone else’s responses and see how others view this topic as well!

[Garnet]

What fun!
Thanks everyone who commented.
Garnet, cackling from florida

[georgia]

@Feathertip

only species that is aware of our ultimate death.

I know my Albus is aware of the loss of other birds with whom we once shared our space. Finches, among other birds, are the type to commit suicide if they lose their mate. Albus has lost three babies, six other birds, and his mate, but I got in his face and he mated with me instead of starving himself.

I have certain reactions at the loss of any bird. Sometimes it means the lost one flew behind or under furniture. Other times, they escaped despite screens and closed entryways. A few times, there were remains, and we acknowledged their loss with their remains in sight. Thus I know Albus is aware of death.

Does any of this mean he knows he will die eventually? I cannot ask such a question because we have no shared words for it. Again, a language barrier doesn’t mean ignorance.

[Feathertip]

I agree - animals are certainly aware of the deaths of others.

Once I was riding my horse way out on a trail, and we unfortunately passed the carcass of a deer. Princess (don’t judge, I was 15!) wanted to investigate, so I gave her her head to pick our way over. She extended her head for a sniff and inspection - and she literally shuddered all over, I felt it through the saddle, and she lurched away.

I knew that she had understood death then, and of another type of animal, and she recoiled. It upset her.

But I never thought that squared with the homo sapien knowledge of our own, inescapable deaths.

Princess got a longer grooming after our ride, and an extra carrot.