Than animals? In the sense of being a "higher being." I bring this up because we were duscussing in class today that humans and animals are compleatly different. Well it was the whole class against me, but the point i am trying to make is How are we are any better than animals? Why is it bad if i go kill sombody but ok if i go kill a deer. Is it because we are the same species and shouldnt do that? Well plenty of animals in the wild kill and eat their own kind. We look at that as survival of the fittest, but what about us? Why would we just be labled as a murderer? Is it because we have advanced so far that Survival of the fittest does not apply to us anymore? The veiw of the class was that "Yes We are different we are gods creations." "The Bible says dont kill people." But didnt god create other creatures? Now im not saying go kill somone but I mean Why are we better? idk im confused.
I don't think we're any "better" than other animals; but we're certainly more intellectually advanced, and we possess self consciousness and emotional capability, which is difficult to prove in other animals. Killing other animals isn't a moral thing, it's a survival thing. We kill them to have something to eat. Sport killing is an entirely different case, of course. But killing other humans is "wrong" because we wouldn't (well, most of us wouldn't) eat that human. I.e. there should be a reason for killing another living animal. I dunno, interesting thread, man
Yea dude i get what your saying. But look at the canabalistic tribes around the world. Their Practices are regarded as Taboo They do it for (in some cases) survival or religion. But then the world looks down on them. It Could also be just the culture you are brought up in. The Ancient Mayans Sacrificed humans to their gods. When the cristians came they were disgusted. The Mayans had grown up thinking it was socially acceptable to kill a human being for religion. Now if you think about it, it would be acceptable if the cristian religion had condoned a sacrificial killing ever other sunday a long time ago. but they didnt so they were taught that killing is wrong. As with other religions.
^^ true words, man, I didn't think of that. Yeah, eskimos frequently practice infanticide; killing newborn babies simply because they don't have the resources to raise them. I was learning about that in Philosophy, when we were studying morality. Moral relativity, to be precise. but yes, you're right. It's heavily based on the particular culture and it'd views on killing other humans
I do not consider us any better than animals. At the most basic level, the only difference between humans and every other living thing is the fact that we know we are alive. I think people tend to view humans as fundamentally different than other animals because of how drastically this single trait changes our behavior. The widespread belief that it is alright to kill animals therefore comes from the belief that they are inferior creatures to us, as well as the fact that many people consider animals quite tasty. As you and L Rag both pointed out, the general view that killing other humans is wrong is a product of our society's moral views. There have been many incidences of humans killing/eating each other throughout history, as well as other animals showing these behaviors. In the end we are no better or worse than any other living organism, but this is a fact that the majority of people in our society are simply not willing to be receptive to.
I don't believe we're any better than other animals. We just have a huge capicity for knowledge and ways to use our knowledge to better our race.
I think a whole lot of humans are full of themselves as a race so to speak. cause some beleive we are more important than animals. Is it just human nature to think of ourselves so highly?
I don't think its human nature to think that way, I never really thought I was better than an animal let alone a human. I think its just being oblivious on how the world really operates.
To me it is more societal nature, and the viewpoint is so widely and strongly endorsed that it often may seem like human nature. Certainly the comments of many people in this thread prove that it is not human nature to think of ourselves this way. I believe it still comes back to our self awareness and ability to improve and adapt to our environment like no other species can, which creates the illusion that we are in fact "better" than other species.
Wouldnt you say that we adapt the enviroment to us? instead of us adapting to the enviroment? That is what i beleive is mans greatest downfall.
Not really trying to Jack my own thread, but think about all the sickness out there that we have medication for. all that stuff is evolving fast and we are running out of options for preventing a lot of it. now after its evolved so much to the point were we cant stop it, our immune systems will be compleatly usless against this "Super Virus" so kinda like the Swine flu scare, humans WILL be wiped out by a sickness. and it's our own fault.
Eh i guess im not either. I dont know why but i think of it kind of wierd that i wouldnt really care if i died tommorow. so if a super flu did decide to ravage southern wisconsin id be ok with it... I wanna know what happens after death lol. to be honest i actually have thought about killing myself,not because i was having a hard time mind you, but just wanting to know lol. but then i decided i can wait.
I figure if I was suppose to die from a 'super virus' then I will, if not, well whatever I'm okay with it either way.
