Thought instead of continuing to thread jack the topic on abortion I would move this discussion into it's own thread.
The question is, are Humans animals? Can we even be compared to animals?
If we are not animals then what are we?
An argument was put forth we are socially not animals. On this I have to ask what is it socially that makes us truly that different? We pursue things just for the sheer pleasure of it? we see this behavior in other animals so that can't be it.
Another argument was we are not animals because unlike animals we have souls. If this is the case then what is a soul? What proof is there that such a thing even exists?
The only way to avoid pain is death or non-life...
You just justified the holocaust...
Think about it...
Oh noes, Godwin's law!
Actually no, I didn't, because the Holocaust was part of a philosophy of subjugation in which the means involved the infliction of as much suffering as possible upon a people. In a similar way I did not justify any of the genocides of the present or past for these are specifically targeted against a single group of people.
Nay, what I justified was the voluntary human extinction movement!
There is too much conflict! Can't the up and the down quarks get along!? How about the strange and the charm quarks!?!?!?
WE have to divide the Universe into sections!!!1111!11!1!11
One for each kind of quark! The strange quarks can have their gooey strange matter, the up and down quarks can enjoy their existence, and even the charm quarks can find happiness!
. . . or we could go on a quarkal genocide. Get rid of all of 'em. It's not like it'll hurt us or mess up matter or anything.
Oh dear, I just came here to tro- I mean stir on this thread, and now I'm jousting with no less than 5 active users...
German:
more affordable, healthier, more profitable, and longer life are all statistic-based.
That's correct. That was my point exactly. We're the ones who make those statistics, you know?
yes however our ability to better ourselves through things other than evolution (it may not make us superior, but) at the least it sets us apart.
Everything humans do is consistent and compatible with the basic principles of evolution. The characteristics and dynamics have just altered slightly but the process remains the same.
Yes, humans are animals, strictly by the definition that we are in the kingdom animalia. Although we are currently the dominant species and have higher intelligence, therefore, we are animals, but not... er... animals...
But it's my strong belief that cockroaches will be the dominant species within a few hundred-million years. Those things are freaky, man.
*is too lazy to catch up with what everyone is currently talking about*
It's not a genocide if you're destroying absolutely everything! We're morally absolved!
You're right! Yes! We'll make millions! Billions! We're going to the top, man! We just have to enjoy being rich . . . before the Universe collapses . . . .
That's correct. That was my point exactly. We're the ones who make those statistics, you know?
we made them off of true facts. they weren't made as "in the eyes of the beholder, this thing lets us produce more ____ and therefore makes it more profitable", it was "based on the numbers we gathered....."
And they're perverts, too! Haven't you ever had a cockroach in your shower, just watching you, then you turn to grab the shampoo and it crawls onto you!?!?!?111/!/??1one1/1/!??!/1/!?
That and their extensive resistance to radiation, weather, and having their heads cut off.
Or maybe those microorganisms that can survive intense radiation, extreme cold (i.e. being frozen in liquid nitrogen), insane heat, being crushed, etc. etc... I forget what it's called. Water bear r something.
You still aren't getting my point German... so let me take a step back.
Who invented statistics? Who developed the interpretations of statistics? What processes were involved in shaping your education and your beliefs?
You said earlier that it was our ability to do things other animals couldn't do that made us superior. You are right insofar as we can do tons of things other animals can't do, but you forgot that other animals can do tons of things humans can't do- which is something I explained on page 5. Therefore what you have done is made an assessment of superiority based on your belief that inventions and economics etc. are the benchmarks for superiority, as opposed to any number of the other strange marvels that are often noted on the National Geographic channel or something.
Simply put, your assessment of superiority as a human is made... as a human. You're making the conscious judgement because your consciousness convinces you that you are self-aware, and this entitles you to make declarations about the value of yourself. Most people do this without ever understanding the nature of consciousness.
