- Sid Tafler
- Victoria British Columbia
- Canada
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Which attribute most makes humans different than all other life forms on earth?
Humans are the dominant species on earth. Or to put it more humbly, perhaps we are the species that has more impact on the planet, good and bad, than any other.
So which single attribute had made us more fundamentally different from all others over the last few hundred thousand years?
Is it our ability to make and control fire? Our legendary opposable thumbs? Our ability to communicate? Our social connections with other humans, or our spiritual explorations? Or some other factor?
Perhaps in your response you will demonstrate the attribute you chose by example.
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Chris Kelly 20+
Obey,
There is no "reply" option, thus the new thread.
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"You couldn't even bring yourself to say "other" animals."
Perhaps because I realize I am not "other" animals. I am a human being, which means I am an immortal spiritual being having a mortal physical experience on this earthly plane.
My physical being does not have any relationship (not cousin to, nor ancestry with) any member of the animal kingdom. That modern science has brainwashed the masses with such evolutionist dogma is every bit as damning to humanity as those who 'blindly' follow religious cults.
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"So you don't believe humans are vertebrates?"
The physical human body has a spinal column, which 'identifies' us as "vertebrates". As to what I "believe", it's that humans are not solely defined by the physical aspect of our nature.
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"Or mammals?"
Given that we are warm-blooded, have a vertebrae et cetera, our physical being is classified as mammalian, however again, the state of being human is not solely defined by the physical aspect of our nature.
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"Or primates?"
Define "primate" ... does it include opposing thumbs, the ability to intentionally increase the intellectual mind and awaken oneself to higher states of conscious spiritual awareness? Because the ORIGIN of the word "primate" is from "L. primas; the first ... as in primary, i.e., being of the "highest" order of mammals." So if this is what you mean by "primate", of course I agree.
If, however, your definition of the word is "characterized by refined development of the hands and feet, a shortened snout, and a large brain" ... no. In my family tree of humanity, there is not now nor has there ever been any heritage linking me to any family of ape, and I've never had a "snout" [13c., "trunk or projecting nose of an animal"] note keyword: animal, (specifically not human).
My human heritage is not concerned with the size of one's brain, per se, but with the expansion of one's mind.
Obey No1kinobe 50+
If my understanding is correct you do accept we are animals in the physical sense but separate from other animals most importantly due to having an immortal spirit. I understand your point that biological classification ignore this critical difference.
I presume you don’t think animals have an immortal spirit. I‘m curious how do you come to these conclusions? How do you know we have an immortal spirit?
I’m not sure if you believe in an afterlife or reincarnation, or whether human spirits are created or always existed. I’m not sure if you are a theist. Obviously not the typical mainstream theist if you are one. Similar views perhaps to Bridget Trenton.
You obviously don't believe or understand in evolution in the same way I do. We can disagree here. Perhaps you might acknowledge that evolution in a physical sense could explain the tree of life including humans even if you hold a contrary view.
However, in other ways we are not so far apart. My view is similar in that modern humans are as far removed from other animals as mammals are from fish in terms of consciousness etc. I really don't know if we have an immortal spirit. I doubt we need one to be as we are, but I can not rule it out.
In fact I've had some unusual experiences that make me think that the simplistic materialistic view is not the full picture. But to a large extent I think our consciousness resides or is created in the brain. Even with MRI's showing brain activity while praying, or brain damage or dementia changing people, I understand this could fit with your view.
I agree in that our mind type experience appears to be far far richer than other animals. In fact we are the most advanced mind/consciousness verified in the universe so far.
Chris Kelly 20+
Alas without so much as one warning of a comment being deleted, nor any notice or any regard whatsoever, BridgetTreton joined the ranks of my other TEDavatar as that account became yet another casualty of the TED deletion system, due to the extraordinary efforts of a certain cry-baby who is, shall we say, so intolerant of me/my expressed understanding of the universal energy system, someone so desperate to protect their own paradigm that my very presence on TED must be eradicated ... avatar by avatar.
Yet, here I am again, same spirit being expressed through another identity. :-) Nothing supernatural about it. [g]
Ken brown 30+
Obey No1kinobe 50+
The more view points the better in principle in my view.
I find your view coherent although we differ in some fundamental perspectives.
No issue disagreeing passionately, while respecting the individual although not all ideas/views/beliefs are equal in my view, and yet our beliefs are often connected to our ego.
Still the less taboo the better although TED don't tolerate preaching or evangelistic or overly controverisal material that may cause offence.. I guess there is a grey zone between expressing ideas and more dangerous territory.
If a bit of censorship/moderation is required to keep the discussion going then so be it.
Personally I have to be careful making comments f when in a hurry or forgetting I'm not talking to myself.