- Sep 22, 2010
- 520
So, it's what it says on the tin really, in this thread I want to explore whether humans are animals or not?
I implore everyone here to put forward a Logical argument, something that makes sense and is not self contradictory, for the sake of our sanity. Also, please please please keep your tone calm and non-agressive, it makes for a better argument plus we are not trying to offend anyone.
To start it off I'll post my ideas: I believe humans are not animals. Firstly I am a Christian, which may be something unpopular to say, but my decisions and arguments are rooted in science.
I think that all animals are explained by their environment. This is the theory of evolution, basically saying that animals are adapted to their environment due to what that environment contains to be more and more efficient. Now, every animal has adapted, but no more than is necessary.
This is really important, animals are not over-adapted. For example I'm sure hawks would be better hunters if they were faster or larger but they are only as fast as they need to be to catch their prey. I'm sure a tarantula would be an even better predator if it was larger or of it's venom was even more poisonous but it is only as large and poisonous as it needs to be to catch its prey NO MORE AND NO LESS. This is true for every animal.
However, humans are much, much over adapted, we are simply too good at gathering food. Apes didn't need to evolve into humans to be successful, they already are. No, humans are not explained by their surroundings.
We have no reason, no reason at all to have such powerful brains. We are too powerful for our own good and our environment does not completely control us, (it controls us incompletely). Instead, we control it and can change it to our will. This no other animal does at a large scale. If we wanted to we could change the climate of the Earth to colder/warmer, this no animal can do.
So we are not explained by our surroundings, we are not contained by them like animals are.
Therefore I believe humans are not animals.
Sorry for the ton of text but every part of it is essential....what do you think?
I implore everyone here to put forward a Logical argument, something that makes sense and is not self contradictory, for the sake of our sanity. Also, please please please keep your tone calm and non-agressive, it makes for a better argument plus we are not trying to offend anyone.
To start it off I'll post my ideas: I believe humans are not animals. Firstly I am a Christian, which may be something unpopular to say, but my decisions and arguments are rooted in science.
I think that all animals are explained by their environment. This is the theory of evolution, basically saying that animals are adapted to their environment due to what that environment contains to be more and more efficient. Now, every animal has adapted, but no more than is necessary.
This is really important, animals are not over-adapted. For example I'm sure hawks would be better hunters if they were faster or larger but they are only as fast as they need to be to catch their prey. I'm sure a tarantula would be an even better predator if it was larger or of it's venom was even more poisonous but it is only as large and poisonous as it needs to be to catch its prey NO MORE AND NO LESS. This is true for every animal.
However, humans are much, much over adapted, we are simply too good at gathering food. Apes didn't need to evolve into humans to be successful, they already are. No, humans are not explained by their surroundings.
We have no reason, no reason at all to have such powerful brains. We are too powerful for our own good and our environment does not completely control us, (it controls us incompletely). Instead, we control it and can change it to our will. This no other animal does at a large scale. If we wanted to we could change the climate of the Earth to colder/warmer, this no animal can do.
So we are not explained by our surroundings, we are not contained by them like animals are.
Therefore I believe humans are not animals.
Sorry for the ton of text but every part of it is essential....what do you think?