Are we "above" other animals?

[Jazzymom]

Originally Posted by Chango

Wrong. Every farmboy knows a fox or coyote will kill far more than it can realistically eat if given the opportunity. The proverbial "fox in the henhouse" scenario is not just made up.

Bigotry and hatred are human concepts so we can't expect animals to feel them, but plenty of them don't like "other colors" either. Put red and black ants together and see what I mean, or look into what happens when a new male lion takes over a pride.

But that is what is so special about human potential. We have a bigger perspective and should be able to suppress negative animalistic tendencies like that. But sadly, humans to be true to their nature more often than not.

Many animals see in black and white, so forget about colors. Yes many animals kill more then they can eat again that is good for nature because there are many scavengers who eat mainly left overs in nature.

Animals are not capable of the bigotry and hatred that the human animal expresses and make no mistake we are just more evolved animals on this planet. Yes animals and bugs kill each other when they meet and its usually for territory and most have an instinct for survival. It truly is survival of the fittest. Man seems to have been unable to evolve out of that mentality.

The human animal is not only capable of hatred and cruelty he is capable of carrying it out in the most cruel and sadistic ways.

Humans have choice and free will but sadly they historically have moved to the dark side.

[dobeable]

why arte yous all focusing on the negatives of man come on people give the human race a bit of credit......there is alot of good in people...just watch a natural disaster and watch how we humans get together to help each other...............but heres the thing because of the system people arent living naturally and bye naturally i mean spiritualy,thats the difference,we are spiritual beings and in this time of the planets existence people are forgetting their spiritual needs and focusing on the temporary things that can bring no REAL lasting happiness......

how come we are the only species to commit suicide,every animal will fight to the last stand to protect their lifes but we need to be happy or things can get very dark and i think its very sad that some people find no alternative than to take their own life and i heard those people usually take the form of a ghost,after leaving the body.

[HonuMan]

I've been away from the Internet this weekend (yes, I sometimes do things that don't involve a computer). Great responses to my OP, everyone! Sometimes it's difficult to get a thread going on this forum unless it makes a definitive claim about the existence (or lack thereof) of God.

One of the last articles Carl Sagan wrote before his death was about how there are no qualities we know for certain that humans possess that at least some other species do not -- it's just a matter of degree. That includes emotions, self-awareness, use of tools, appreciation of beauty, artistic expression, and possibly even a sense of the spiritual. NPR had a spot recently about an anthropologist who observed a group of monkeys staring silently into a pool of water for five minutes. This is a species that had never been known to be still or silent when in a group for more than a few seconds at a time. He checked out the pool, and there were no fish or other animals in it. He could think of no hypothesis other than that they were experiencing some sort of "spiritual moment."

I went to a couple of parties this weekend, and, as usual, I ended up devoting some of my attention to the pets: dogs, cats, and horses. It always fills me with a sense of wonder that different species can interact. I often wonder what it would be like to know the thoughts of an animal, while retaining my human awareness.