What Makes Human Beings Special?

[PaulSacramento]

I think his rather pointless point is that humans are special only in the eyes of humans because they think themselves special.
They are no more or no less than any other animal on this planet.
Which is empirically incorrect of course.

[Kenny]

Ken: Humans are only special in the eyes of other humans.

And so why is this true? And it's universally true!

For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

To try to test Kenny's assertion, I did a little experiment.

I asked my dog if he thinks dogs are more special than people. He wagged his tail, and licked me in the face.

I asked my cat if he thinks cats are more special than people. He meowed, and rubbed up against me.

My conclusion, is that animals don't think like humans do. Pretty scientific, I'd say.

Hey RickeyD
I've got one more scientific experiment for ya; ask a Grizzly bear cub if your life is special while his momma bear looks on.( I"ve got a feeling before you even get to ask the question, momma bear will make it violently clear just how valuable your life is to her) and if there is anything left of ya; come back and tell us the results of your scientific experiment. (LOL)

[Storyteller]

Tbf Ken, Rick has a point (unusual i know)
Grizzly bears, or any other species other than us (with perhaps the exception of cats - they make sure we know how special they are) believes theyre special. Why do we?

You have to agree we are different, surely? Then why are we different?
If its purely evolution then why we are we the only species to evolve like this?

There is something that sets us apart.

[Philip]

Story: There is something that sets us apart.

There is a huge list of things that are unique to humans, that no other animal or specie compares to us.

[RickD]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

[Kenny]

Story: There is something that sets us apart.

There is a huge list of things that are unique to humans, that no other animal or specie compares to us.

I agree!

[Kenny]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

Excellent point.

[RickD]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

Excellent point.

Don't get too excited Kenny, it still does nothing for your argument.

[PaulSacramento]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

There is a difference between an animal killing the offspring of a competing alpha or animals leaving a weak offspring to either die or survive and the conscious killing of ones OWN offspring for the sake of convenience, especially when there is an understanding of right and wrong.

[RickD]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

There is a difference between an animal killing the offspring of a competing alpha or animals leaving a weak offspring to either die or survive and the conscious killing of ones OWN offspring for the sake of convenience, especially when there is an understanding of right and wrong.

Absolutely. That's why murder is exclusive to humanity.

[Storyteller]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

There is a difference between an animal killing the offspring of a competing alpha or animals leaving a weak offspring to either die or survive and the conscious killing of ones OWN offspring for the sake of convenience, especially when there is an understanding of right and wrong.

Absolutely. That's why murder is exclusive to humanity.

Lions have been known to kill the cubs in a pride they take over as it brings the lionesses into season, ensuring it's his genes passed on.

[Kenny]

Ken: For the same reason Grizzly Bears are special in the eyes of other Grizzly Bears.

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

Excellent point.

Don't get too excited Kenny, it still does nothing for your argument.

C'mon Rick; just because you might get it right every now and then doesn't mean I'm excited. After all; even a broken clock can be right twice a day (LOL)

[PaulSacramento]

That's not true - grizzlies (which are merely a subspecie of brown bear) are well known to not only attack other brown bears, but for killing their cubs as well, and sometimes their mothers. Females with cubs avoid male bears at all costs. They are brutal predators and opportunists!

The human species is also well known for killing its offspring, in the name of inconvenience.

There is a difference between an animal killing the offspring of a competing alpha or animals leaving a weak offspring to either die or survive and the conscious killing of ones OWN offspring for the sake of convenience, especially when there is an understanding of right and wrong.

Absolutely. That's why murder is exclusive to humanity.

Lions have been known to kill the cubs in a pride they take over as it brings the lionesses into season, ensuring it's his genes passed on.

Yep, it is an animalistic, instinctive act based on self-preservation and genetic reproduction.
The difference is that a human would know/understand the act to be wrong ( or right depending on the relativistic morality of the individual) as opposed to simply being driven by instinct.

[Philip]

Paul: The difference is that a human would know/understand the act to be wrong

On so, the obvious question is, WHY would a human understand the act to be wrong? Actually, many don't, willing to ruthlessly slaughter all who it serves their evil purposes to do so. But that the vast majority of humanity sees killing humans without a defensive reason morally wrong - WHY??? Most people are not opposed to eating the meat of animals, or using their skins (leather, etc.). So why do most thing killing people is a terrible thing? And don't bother with the blather that it keeps societal peace. Because when a person is murdered, people see it as a deeply hurtful, terrible, brutal act against a person and their family and friends - they aren't saying to themselves, "Oh, this is just not going to be good for society!"

[PaulSacramento]

Paul: The difference is that a human would know/understand the act to be wrong

On so, the obvious question is, WHY would a human understand the act to be wrong? Actually, many don't, willing to ruthlessly slaughter all who it serves their evil purposes to do so. But that the vast majority of humanity sees killing humans without a defensive reason morally wrong - WHY??? Most people are not opposed to eating the meat of animals, or using their skins (leather, etc.). So why do most thing killing people is a terrible thing? And don't bother with the blather that it keeps societal peace. Because when a person is murdered, people see it as a deeply hurtful, terrible, brutal act against a person and their family and friends - they aren't saying to themselves, "Oh, this is just not going to be good for society!"

Note that I stated, in parenthesis, that it could be viewed as right depending on the relativistic moral view.
Point being that a human can, for better or worse, justify and reason something like killing whereas an animal simply does because of instinct.
To say that both are basically the same and that humans aren't anymore special than any other animal begs the question:
If so, why are you here DISCUSSING this ??