What Separates Us Humans From The Rest Of The Animal Kingdom
What separates us humans from the rest of the animal kingdom? The first thing that comes to mind is our brain and our ability to reason. Our brain is not the largest one in the animal kingdom, yet it allows us the capabilities that far exceed others. Being able to reason and think we can be introspective, be aware of right and wrong, and establish a justice system. With all those capacities, there come negative attributes as well. We are the only species that commit premeditated murder and genocides. The rest of the animal kingdom kills only for survival. Therefore, we have developed laws, and those who break the law are subject to punishment. On the bright side, we have the ability to teach complex subjects such as language and speech, mathematics,
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As humans, our offspring stay with parents longer than other species. This is most likely to give time for our brains to develop fully. Babies are born totally dependent and are not capable of doing anything on their own. I do not believe we are born hating, I believe hatred is taught. I also believe that people are predisposed to problems such as addiction or violence. These genetic traits could be triggered or remain dormant depending on the environment that one grows up in or is subjected to. Different people will respond in different ways depending on their composition.
After researching what makes humans unique and different from other animals, and reading both the Civilization and its Discontents by Freud, and the Charles Manson biography, I realized that it is the power and inner workings of the human mind that connects all three concepts and ideas. It is the human beings ability to reason, be aware of right and wrong, and the ability to think before we act, that allows us to live in a civilized society. In Civilization and its Discontents, Freud argues there is a difference between the purposes of life for animals vs. the purpose of life for man. For animals, it’s all about survival, for humans it is
As humans, our offspring stay with parents longer than other species. This is most likely to give time for our brains to develop fully. Babies are born totally dependent and are not capable of doing anything on their own. I do not believe we are born hating, I believe hatred is taught. I also believe that people are predisposed to problems such as addiction or violence. These genetic traits could be triggered or remain dormant depending on the environment that one grows up in or is subjected to. Different people will respond in different ways depending on their composition.
After researching what makes humans unique and different from other animals, and reading both the Civilization and its Discontents by Freud, and the Charles Manson biography, I realized that it is the power and inner workings of the human mind that connects all three concepts and ideas. It is the human beings ability to reason, be aware of right and wrong, and the ability to think before we act, that allows us to live in a civilized society. In Civilization and its Discontents, Freud argues there is a difference between the purposes of life for animals vs. the purpose of life for man. For animals, it’s all about survival, for humans it is