- Thaddea Thompson
- Anderson, SC
- United States
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What does it take to be considered Human? What are the basic requirements?
Why are we human different from other animals? How do we know that we are human other than some one else telling us so?
Mike Miller
W. Ying 10+
It is human DNA.
Scott Armstrong 50+
Daryl Roche
Seamus McGrenery
What I am suggesting is that we have developed a second channel for passing advantage to our offspring, besides biological evolution.
While other animals may have complex social structures—there may be an argument that the extent and level of interconnectedness among humans has no comparison in other species—I believe we are unique in the way we can pass both ideas and possessions down through generations.
For me the passing on of advantages is what shapes the world we live in. A simple example is the idea of property laws—not to mention the concept of law—which have at their core the idea that once we gain an object or some territory we can pass that on to our offspring.
Jedrek Stepien 10+
Theodore A. Hoppe 200+
John Gianino
Thaddea Thompson
John Gianino
Ken brown 30+
Obey No1kinobe 50+
I wonder how far back modern humans could reproduce with our ancestors. Probably could with the Neanderthals. Homo erectis? Homo habilis I doubt.
I suggest there is a continuum of human ancestors with less to more differences with other animals. At some point modern humans could not interbred with our ancestors making us distinct species
In a lot of ways we are not that different from other animals. Sexually reproduce, eat, sleep, bleed, breathe, bones, age, die. Just a supped up brain, language, culture and mobile phones.
Barry Palmer 50+
Seamus McGrenery
Why are we human different from other animals?
In my humble opinion the big difference is that our species has developed a second channel for passing advantage to our offspring. I have written about that here.
http://seamus.mcgrenery.com/2013/03/bear-versus-superape.html
How do we know that we are human other than some one else telling us so?
Knowing is complicated. Using words to describe being human assumes a shared cultural understanding of what the word 'human' means so in that sense someone else telling us they share the same meaning of the word as we do is important. However, like all mammals, we have a range of systems for detecting if another creature is of the same species as us. In a fundamental we know that we are human, and don't need to be told by anyone else.
Also, while others may be faster runners or better spellers than we are, we should know in that same fundamental sense that we are equal with others.
Thaddea Thompson
I have alos asked the question of "How do we know other than by someone else telling us so?"
Seamus McGrenery
These systems we have are quite complex. For example the human sense of smell also seems to play a role in detecting if a potential mates immune system is complimentary.
If our senses can work at that level of detail we can be pretty sure that they will tell us we are human.
Theodore A. Hoppe 200+
Don't other animals have complex social structures a well?
Remove the "advantage" and how are we less human?
Theodore A. Hoppe 200+
walking upright
the neo cortex and brain size
the use of a language
Here's what others have said:
Daniel Dennett, cognitive scientist: We are the first species that represents our reasons, and can reason with each other.
Patricia Churchland, neuroethicist: The structure of how the human brain is arranged intrigues me. Are there unique brain structures? As far as we can understand, it’s our size that is unique. What we don’t find are other unique structures. There may be certain types of human-specific cells — but as for what that means, we don’t know. It’s important not only to focus on us, to compare our biology and behavior to other animals.
Antonio Damasio, neuroscientist: The critical unique factor is language. Creativity. The religious and scientific impulse. And our social organization, which has developed to a prodigious degree. We have a record of history, moral behavior, economics, political and social institutions. We’re probably unique in our ability to investigate the future, imagine outcomes, and display images in our minds. I like to think of a generator of diversity in the frontal lobe.
Marvin Minsky, artificial intelligence pioneer: We do something other species can’t: We remember. We have cultures, ways of transmitting information.
Nikolas Rose, sociologist: Language and representation. We are the kind of creatures that ask those questions of ourselves. And we believe science can help answer. We’ve become creatures that think of ourselves as essentially biological — and I think we’re more than biological creatures. I’m not sure biology has answers.
Thaddea Thompson
Robert Winner 50+
Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+
Thaddea Thompson
Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+
Edited addition after 15 hours of my question. I am asking this because I have a feeling you are saying that I am a retard who hails from a poor, backward and corrupt third world country. I may be mistaken also so want your comment clarified. Thanks.