Humans =/= Animals

[Cite134]

Since when did we stop becoming animals? It seems like our culture has developed some vague dichotomy of animals and human. I see so many statements in textbooks such as: "Man vs animals", "man evolved from ape (are we not still apes?)".  I fail to see the distinction.

I agree that our cognitive abilities are much higher than any other animal on the planet. On the other hand, intelligence is not completely exclusive to homo sapiens. But so what? Given the fair examination of human origins, I fail to see how we are not animals.

Input?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Well, obviously we're not animals.  We make taffy.

[Cite134]

Well, obviously we're not animals.  We make taffy.

[Thumpalumpacus]

[TheJackel]

Well, obviously we're not animals.  We make taffy.

Only an animal can make taffy! I on the other hand make paper airplanes while eating a bowl of Cookie Crisp!!

[karadan]

I agree that our cognitive abilities are much higher than any other animal on the planet. On the other hand, intelligence is not completely exclusive to homo sapiens. But so what? Given the fair examination of human origins, I fail to see how we are not animals.

Input?

I'm not so sure our cognitive abilities are much higher, or even at the top compared to other mammals. Whales are only unfortunate enough to lack thumbs, but that doesn't mean the 6kg Blue Whale brain isn't capable of a greater ability to process and store complex information. Once we find a way to decipher the structured language of whales, dolphins and elephants, etc, I think we'll be blown away at how articulate and philosophical these creatures actually are.

I personally consider humans to be animals. We've just been lucky enough to form the written word and use that to our advantage throughout history. There's a tendency, especially among people with a severe god agenda, to reduce complex mammals to the same bracket as that of an insect. Ie, all living things are the same and none possess consciousness or any sense of self apart from humans because we're made in gods image, yadda yadda.. That's such obvious bullshit and it distresses me greatly. Mainly because I know there are people around the world who'd use this as an excuse to be unimaginably cruel to other animals.

I cheer when I see a matador get gored up the arse.

[Cite134]

I agree that our cognitive abilities are much higher than any other animal on the planet. On the other hand, intelligence is not completely exclusive to homo sapiens. But so what? Given the fair examination of human origins, I fail to see how we are not animals.

Input?

I'm not so sure our cognitive abilities are much higher, or even at the top compared to other mammals. Whales are only unfortunate enough to lack thumbs, but that doesn't mean the 6kg Blue Whale brain isn't capable of a greater ability to process and store complex information. Once we find a way to decipher the structured language of whales, dolphins and elephants, etc, I think we'll be blown away at how articulate and philosophical these creatures actually are.

I personally consider humans to be animals. We've just been lucky enough to form the written word and use that to our advantage throughout history. There's a tendency, especially among people with a severe god agenda, to reduce complex mammals to the same bracket as that of an insect. Ie, all living things are the same and none possess consciousness or any sense of self apart from humans because we're made in gods image, yadda yadda.. That's such obvious bullshit and it distresses me greatly. Mainly because I know there are people around the world who'd use this as an excuse to be unimaginably cruel to other animals.

I cheer when I see a matador get gored up the arse.

I suppose. Additionally, I honestly think there are other animals arguably smarter than some people I know -__-.
But yeah, I cannot see how intelligence is a sufficient distinction for humans being "non-animal like".

[Will]

Thinking one's self better than something else is the first step in abusing it.

[Inevitable Droid]

"man evolved from ape (are we not still apes?)".  I fail to see the distinction.

I want to thank you for triggering me to challenge my knowledge of words.  My initial reaction to your statement was to think (erroneously, it turns out) that it would be helpful for me to clarify (falsely, it turns out) that while humans are certainly animals and are certainly primates, we technically aren't classified as apes.  I wisely decided to double-check first, and lo and behold, I was wrong.  Modern biologists classify humans as apes.  We are apes.  Thanks again for triggering my self-edification.

[The Magic Pudding]

I fail to see how we are not animals.  Input?

Animals don't have souls.
We are created in gods image.
Looken at some of you, I guess god has bad days.

Who really believes this crap anyway, plunder the Earth, the end is nigh creationists?

[McQ]

Well, obviously we're not animals.  We make taffy.

lol  

[Asmodean]

"man evolved from ape (are we not still apes?)"

An albatros can glide. A flying squirrel can glide too. Albatros is a bird thus, the flying squirrel is also a bird.

We did not evolve from apes, therefor we are are not apes. They are our distant cousins, not our ancestors. Our common non-human ancestor was an ape-like creature.

[Inevitable Droid]

We did not evolve from apes, therefor we are are not apes.

Recent genetic mapping has led taxonomists to classify humans as apes: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/hominins.html

[Asmodean]

We did not evolve from apes, therefor we are are not apes.

Recent genetic mapping has led taxonomists to classify humans as apes: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/hominins.html

It's about classifying apes as hominid, not humans as apes, as far as I can see. There is a difference.

[Inevitable Droid]

It's about classifying apes as hominid, not humans as apes, as far as I can see. There is a difference.

First, I should clarify that orangutans are in a different family, and so the more accurate phrase to be applied to humans, gorillas, and chimps, is, African ape.  Humans, of course, arose out of Africa, according to the best genetic analysis currently available.  Genetically speaking, humans are as closely related to chimps as gorillas are, and are as closely related to gorillas as chimps are.  The relationship between all three is such that each is a subfamily of the same family.  If the phrase African ape can encompass gorillas and chimps by virtue of both being subfamilies of the same family, then it follows, I think, that the phrase African ape can likewise encompass humans, for we are a subfamily of the same family as gorillas and chimps.  The family hominid might as well be viewed as the taxonomic designation for the African ape.  It wasn't always but it is now, or if it isn't, I don't see why not.  Personally I enjoy thinking of myself as an African ape.  Through the tall trees of my imagination, high up in the canopy, tightly clutching a taut vine, Tarzan swings, bellowing.