A Human being is a kind of animals. Humans are also in a group of primates and mammals. There are some evidences indicated that humans originated from Apes. Humans do not only look like Apes, but humans also share some genetic materials with Apes. One of the differences is a human walks on two legs with the back upright. Furthermore, humans have a higher brain function for executive tasks such as calculation, abstract thinking and logical judgment.
Another aspect that makes humans unique is that we have culture. For instance, we have many written and spoken languages. Some people might argue that some animals can use their voice to communicate, but their languages are only for basic communication. Humans use languages extensively to tell a story and to express their emotions such as fear, happiness, loneliness, love, etc. Another example is that humans use many tools to complete their tasks. What makes human’s tools differ from animal’s tools is that our tools are more complex and have been designed for specific purpose. In addition, people mind is the most difficult thing to understand. Humans have “superego” or moral which has an influence on our behaviors. We do not do any actions just by our desire, but we consider whether it is a good thing or a bad thing to do.
At this point, I would say that a human is a kind of animals, but humans are very much unlike any creatures. What is your idea?
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3 comments:
I do agree with you that human is a kind of animal. We always tell ourselves that we are special than any other animal so we are called human being. However, I think that human may not differ from an animal if he does not know what is right or wrong.
Like Dao, I enjoyed the fact that you started your definition by stating we are a kind of animal, and proceeded to place our species within the biological continuum and as mammals and primates. Using other scientific classifications in a definition is a way of saving a lot of time -- because classifications like mammal and primate include so many things. Just with those words we know a lot about human beings. You then move on to talk about things that make us unique from other primates, including walking upright, tools, language and culture. This is an excellent definition, and I think I can see your medical and biological training at work. Where your definition gets really interesting to me is when you introduced the concept of morality, and the idea of thinking about what is 'right' and 'wrong'. Many Philosophers have pointed out that we seem to be the only 'animal' who worries about such things. Of course, as the other animals can't apparently talk, and don't produce any writing that we can see, so we don't actually know if they think about these things or not. However, it certainly is true that we don't have any evidence that they do. Neither do we see any evidence of 'religion' amongst animals, and this also seems to be a characteristic of the human race.
Certainly archaeologists get very excited when they notice burial customs which seem to imply a religious belief. Well done!
It's true that humans are the only animals that have the spines vertical to the ground. Actually, there are many spinal diseases that related to the gravity such as spondylosis (degenerative of the spine), herniated intervertebral disc, compression fracture, osteoporosis, etc.
I don't think that the spine has been primarily designed to be upright.
Joyce
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