Monday, January 25, 2010
Human/Non-Human Animals
I believe there is no one specific difference that separates human beings from animals. Instead, there is a series of multiple characteristics that distinguish the two organisms from each other. Some of the anatomical features of man are unlike that of any other species of animal. Such things include the way humans walk and the structure of the brain. Only humans walk in an erect position, and the brain is normally two to three times larger than most other animals. The other apparent substantial differences are found in logic, communication, and senses. Animals are not self-conscious, which means they are not aware of the birth or reason for their existence. Human beings are the only living things that portray a complex array of both written and verbal communication. Sure animals make different noises, but no other animal can comprehend human intellect. Finally, humans can experience a vast amount of emotions unlike any other animal. Ultimately, humans are different from animals in anatomical function and mental capacity.
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I disagree with many statements made in this comment by Ryan. First, dolphins have the largest brains of any non-human animal. Brain size does not distinguish what makes an animal conscious or not, it depends on what areas are devoted to certain things. Most areas of animal's brains are dedicated to sensory areas, such as dolphins, as to understand the complex "noises" they relate to each other. Bats also have a complex system of communication through their "noises" that are made.
Secondly, as qouted by Donald Griffin and Gayle Speck, "These apes also understand simple levels of human speech" (Griffen, Speck 132). With that being said, humans cannot fully understand the complex communication of animals to each other. Just like an English speaking person cannot understand somebody who speaks Spanish. It is something that must be learned and trained to understand.
In conclusion, animals and humans share many similarities, such as complex communication being conspecifics, the ability to walk erect, such as apes can, and large brains, such as the dolphin possesses.
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