Rather, I think it is our ability to conceive of other worlds, other dimensions, and an afterlife.
In other words, the ability to philosophize and speculate.
I don't think animals can do that. Does anyone think that animals can?
It's not been proven, although some suspect it may exist in the "higher IQ" animals (chimps, dolphins, etc.). The general belief is that humans are the only creatures with a sense of "self".
Supermodels...spoiled stupid little stick figures mit poofy lips who sink only about zemselves.
I agree with you. I don't think emotions are very highly evolved things...I mean, most emotions usually are meant to help you and your offspring survive and reproduce...Such as avoiding dangerous situations (fear), defend yourself (anger), protect your kin and reproduction(love). Emotions are often what get us in trouble. But yes, I do believe it is the ability to think theoretically which makes us a bit different...this ability really doesn't show up though until age 12 or so (Piaget's "formal operational period", and usually only in cultures with formal schooling.
shareWell to me, the most important trait that separates people from other animals is our capacity to be evil. Animals are either innocent (not intelligent enough to cause harm), compassionate (in self-sacrifice as seen in dogs and countless other species), or instinctively brutal (to increase the probability of carrying on their genes). Only humans are malicious, conniving, arrogant, and cruel for no apparent reason.
share[deleted]
How do you know they get pleasure from it?
The difference between animals and man is that man has a soul and animals do not.Animals live and die and that's it. Humans have a living soul that goes on after they die.
I love the outrecuidance (new word, learned today so must use ...) of humans who presume to know the inner life of any animal based on the reductive methods that humans employ in order to try and gain entry to such life. Humans don't even understand the capacity of human inner life, let alone that of other sentient being.
The OP's gambit is one of the most outrecuidant (twice in one post!) animal life that I've had the displeasure to read yet concerning the regarding the superiority of humans over other life.
Away with the manners of withered virginsshare