So i've been really pondering the whole bla bla bla meaning of existence thing... there are those that say we are nothing more than the pinnacle of evolution, and they are probably right, but think about this. Why are we the only species that can think based on non-instinct? And be intelligent enough to speak, and create the things we have created? it is mind boggling that this is the pure product of evolution. My opinion is that there is a higher being that had us in mind when he started the whole big picture... man its so confusing. Thoughts are welcome.
Higher being=God (to some people) I think God had it planned that humans would be the smartest race on Earth.
Well, there can't be a "pinnacle" to evolution, it's completely contradicting to what evolution is; the constant changing and evolving of specimens over time, implying that they are always evolving, as we still are today. Now, I get what you're saying, right now we think we are at the "pinnacle", but that's only relative to what we've seen in the past, not accounting for the future evolution of our species. And yes, advanced thought is the one thing that determines human personhood. I'm not too sure WHY we have the capability of such thought though and nothing else.
Everything can speak, and if we were that evolved, we'd be able to understand what other animals are saying. And... if it was all based around us, then there wouldn't be any need for anything else, would there? But don't get anyone started on god, people never settle arguements based on religion, even though I personally believe god is a figment of peoples imagination, made up just so that people think they have something to live for when really, they don't...
agree. animals communicate to each other in a different way than humans, just because humans can't understand what animals are saying doesn't mean animals can't communicate between each other, and i think we can create this things we have created because of how we are. I mean, you can't put a squirrel to build a building, its(squirrel's) size wouldn't help.
agree. animals communicate to each other in a different way than humans, just because humans can't understand what animals are saying doesn't mean animals can't communicate between each other, and i think we can create this things we have created because of how we are. I mean, you can't put a squirrel to build a building, its(squirrel's) size wouldn't help. [/b][/quote] Yep. I see animals "speaking" every day. Ever watch two dogs together? How about a herd of horses? There is obvious communication in all of that. Evolution is more or less undeniable, from what we know now--maybe twenty years from now we'll find evidence we were wrong and we really popped into existance exactly as we are now. Or maybe not. There was a really great article in National Geographic about evolution. It was a fairly recent issue, October I think. It's got some kind of reptile on the cover. Anyway. I think I've gotten off the subject. While some of our actions, especially "morally righteous" ones may seem counter productive to the species, think about how many humans there are in the world. I'd say we're doing a pretty good job at procreating, wouldn't you?
Yeah i agree with what Dedicated said. And besides, is speaking really a sign of intelligence? Maybe some animals out there can communicate telepathically.
Yeah i agree with what Dedicated said. And besides, is speaking really a sign of intelligence? Maybe some animals out there can communicate telepathically. [/b][/quote] and if they communicate telepathically, then they would be smarter than humans
Wouldn't you actually have to define intelligence to define which species was the most intelligent? But how can you define intelligence? Everyone is intelligent in different ways and thats just in humans, For example look at dogs, there are loads of types of dogs and they are all intelligent in different ways.
Well, let's look simply at problem solving and thought process. As far as I'm aware, human's have the most superior problem solving skills of any animal. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Every sepcies has some characteristic to help them compete and survive on this planet. We certainly aren't taller that giraffes. We aren't as strong as bears. We aren't as fast as cheetas. We can't swim and leap in the water like dolphins. What we have is our thinking skills. Without our superior thinking skills, we wouldn't stand a chance against, say, a lion. Intelligence is our way of surviving, just as superior sight is the owl's way of surviving. We're only special when it comes to our thinking skills in the way the owl is special for its ability to see.
Maybe other species are as smart as us and we don't know it. Squirrels are out of the question since they run across roads for the 'fun' of being smashed to little squirrel pieces.
Well, let's look simply at problem solving and thought process. As far as I'm aware, human's have the most superior problem solving skills of any animal. Correct me if I'm wrong. [/b][/quote] I'm 90% sure that's correct.
goso: i was going to say that exact same thing. well, not exactly, but you know what i mean and yeah, i basically agree with dedicated duffy: maybe they want to get to the other side of the road i think thats what pretty much screws us over most of the time. the opposable thumb helps a lot well, if you really think about it, people might not even be that smart. i mean we do a lot of stupid, pointless shit. like how many people think violence is entertaining, how they dont care about pollution, how they damage their bodies with drugs, etc. etc. i mean, its pretty ridiculous. sure we might be smarter in problem solving, but we dont really see the bigger picture. to me, thats not really being so smart. i think i would rather call humans the most selfish of the animal kingdom, rather than the smartest. i mean, to think that everything created is for humans to use is ludicrous. if it were, why would animals have their own minds, personalities, or even have nervous systems? let alone there even being a food chain. if we were, in fact, responsible enough to be in charge of everything in the world, there wouldnt be so many problems going on, and we wouldnt ruin the earth or the living things inhabiting it with us as well (which we have already accoplished). but hey, thats just my opinion oh, and obviously i dont mean every human being is like that. im just saying the selfish ones by far exceed the selfless ones.
I more or less agree with you, except on one thing. But can non-human animals see the bigger picture? I don't think they have the imagination for that (and I mean that in a non-demeaning way). I think our problem solving ability is what's gotten us into trouble. Horse society doesn't change much over the generations, at least not in ways that we can see. But humans want faster and easier ways to travel long distances, so we invent cars. We invent non-degradable plastics and then throw then throw them in land fills. So really problems you mentioned, like pollution (not the violence one though, I can't answer that) come from the fact that we are smart enough to create things.
yes, but i mean the bigger picture as health and environmental-wise. we want better transportation for ourselves, we have power plants to do things, but its still polluting the atmosphere and the air, and other living things breathe. and instead of constantly working on better ways to fix this problem, we work on inventing things like indoor grills that get rid of 80% of the fat in your burger. non-human animals, they dont just go out and destroy the earth, they just mind their own business, whereas humans feel they need to controll everything and benefit themselves, even though destroying the environment will eventually hurt us even more than it already is. global warming is not cool
We are more efficient than animals. Our advanced thought process has created civilization, that, in a way, removes us from nature (figuratively). Because of this, we can attain resources much faster and more efficiently, and live without the constant fear of predator or constant struggle of our next meal. Now, this alone does not mean that we are "smarter." But what I'm driving at is that we, through our advanced thought, have created the ability to go "against nature" in these ways. Animals have no choice but to conform to the laws set by nature and instinctively carry out their means of survival. Now, I can most certainly see your gripe, we as a race are irresponsible, and largely destructive. But I believe if we took the time and effort to fix things, we could. (Greed may prevent that, but that's another story). Animals work in harmony with nature, but they have no option to do otherwise. If they do, they will immedeately die. We, through our civilization brought on by thought, can go against nature, and find ways to prolong our dieing off in the process. Is this good? Is this bad? It's both. But the bottom line is, generally, we have a far more advanced thought process than animals (or the ability to have such a thought process). Most would count this as "smarter." One last tidbit, through your rhetoric you'd have to ask yourself this: Let's say rabbits had opposable thumbs, longer legs, and an advanced thought process. Would they do the same thing to the earth after thousands of years of civilization? Probably. Humans just happen to be the ones with the tools. Edit: And is selfishness really that bad of a thing?
We are more efficient than animals. Our advanced thought process has created civilization, that, in a way, removes us from nature (figuratively). Because of this, we can attain resources much faster and more efficiently, and live without the constant fear of predator or constant struggle of our next meal. Now, this alone does not mean that we are "smarter." But what I'm driving at is that we, through our advanced thought, have created the ability to go "against nature" in these ways. Animals have no choice but to conform to the laws set by nature and instinctively carry out their means of survival. Now, I can most certainly see your gripe, we as a race are irresponsible, and largely destructive. But I believe if we took the time and effort to fix things, we could. (Greed may prevent that, but that's another story). Animals work in harmony with nature, but they have no option to do otherwise. If they do, they will immedeately die. We, through our civilization brought on by thought, can go against nature, and find ways to prolong our dieing off in the process. Is this good? Is this bad? It's both. But the bottom line is, generally, we have a far more advanced thought process than animals (or the ability to have such a thought process). Most would count this as "smarter." One last tidbit, through your rhetoric you'd have to ask yourself this: Let's say rabbits had opposable thumbs, longer legs, and an advanced thought process. Would they do the same thing to the earth after thousands of years of civilization? Probably. Humans just happen to be the ones with the tools. [/b][/quote] That pretty much sums up my thoughts on the subject.