are we really superior

[Ifish]

Of course we are superior. Our brains have allowed us to dominate just about every aspect of our planet. On an individual basis it differs, but as a whole, humans are the most superior animal on the planet.

Whether that's a good thing or not is a different debate and certainly not one for the "Raising Baby Chicks" section.

 

[Ifish]

My view is that humans suck. But I think that we should be equal with animals. Though if we did not have weapons and lived naturally, we would be near the bottom of the food chain, so technically animals are superior. But we have better power of reason. So lets just shut up and live in harmony! (hand and hand we can live together, people or not were all the same! fur or hair, skin or scales, lets not kill each other because that is lame!) Had to pull a South Park.

Then follow your own thinking. Go live like an animal and see how much fun that is. No electric, internet, etc..

Our superiority allowed us to create tools long ago. How is living without tools natural for humans?

 

[Mini Meat]

The fact that you can ask the question, answers it.

 

[Sonya9]

My view is that humans suck. But I think that we should be equal with animals. Though if we did not have weapons and lived naturally, we would be near the bottom of the food chain, so technically animals are superior. But we have better power of reason.

Main difference isn't even reason, it is our species ability to use language and benefit from COLLECTIVE knowledge. Lord knows plenty of humans are extremely stupid animals, however thanks to collective knowledge even the stupidest among us can benefit from the ideas/solutions thought up by the greatest minds the species has produced.

Without that collective knowledge we wouldn't be at the top of the food chain.

 

[pingu1]

this is a tiny bit off track but if we are top of the food chain where are head lice and mosquitos etc

 

[Sonya9]

this is a tiny bit off track but if we are top of the food chain where are head lice and mosquitos etc

Or the viruses that kill us and appear to be "out smarting" us by sharing resistant genes and defeating our attempts to wipe them out.

Pingu1 I do hope you realize that this forum attracts a wide variety of individuals. Not everyone here thinks they are superior to all non-human animals.

 

[ImNotYogi]

Yes, humans are intellectually superior to other known living things on this planet. Though I don't think that makes us inherently better. Animals are primarily driven by instinct to fulfill basic needs and some can be taught certain things. Humans have the ability to know better and do better in how we treat others but we don't a lot of the time.

 

[Ifish]

this is a tiny bit off track but if we are top of the food chain where are head lice and mosquitos etc

Even with that, humans have dominated just about every aspect of this planet, and the human population isn't declining. So how does an animal become so intelligent, dominate most things, and not be superior?

If you look at an individual level anything in any way, shape , or form can be argued. Can I duke it out with a Leopard or brown bear? Probably not. Can I use a spear and kill them? Most likely, or at least defend myself some and put up a better fight.

 

[Sonya9]

Even with that, humans have dominated just about every aspect of this planet, and the human population isn't declining. So how does an animal become so intelligent, dominate most things, and not be superior?

If you look at an individual level anything in any way, shape , or form can be argued. Can I duke it out with a Leopard or brown bear? Probably not. Can I use a spear and kill them? Most likely, or at least defend myself some and put up a better fight.

Yes but once again that superiority relies on collective knowledge. A group of humans living in isolation and not able to benefit from the knowledge is a different matter entirely. Isolated tribes are usually NOT at the top of the food chain (crocodiles and big cats/predators would be). Children that are "raised by wolves" aren't all that spectacular either.

There are some very smart non-human animals, those animals may learn a few things from their parents but most of their knowledge is SELF ACQUIRED or genetic (what you would call instinct). Most humans that had to rely on self-acquired knowledge would fair pretty badly. We may be smart "as a group" but many non-human animals are much smarter on an individual level if the group think aspect is removed.

I personally do not believe knowledge equates to superiority; if that were the case then some humans would be superior to other less intelligent humans as well as less intelligent non-human animals.

 

[Ifish]

Yes but once again that superiority relies on collective knowledge. A group of humans living in isolation and not able to benefit from the knowledge is a different matter entirely. Isolated tribes are usually NOT at the top of the food chain (crocodiles and big cats/predators would be). Children that are "raised by wolves" aren't all that spectacular either.

There are some very smart non-human animals, those animals may learn a few things from their parents but most of their knowledge is SELF ACQUIRED or genetic (what you would call instinct). Most humans that had to rely on self-acquired knowledge would fair pretty badly. We may be smart "as a group" but many non-human animals are much smarter on an individual level if the group think aspect is removed.

I personally do not believe knowledge equates to superiority; if that were the case then some humans would be superior to other less intelligent humans as well as less intelligent non-human animals.

While I understand what you are saying and agree for the most part, a tribe lost in the jungle would still be the top of the food chain IMO. They would kill many more animals for food than animals would kill them. Life is certainly tougher, but they flourish and grow. Like I said, many things can be argued as you scale back the amount of humans in the equation.

I would also argue that Knowledge is a major component when it comes to my interpretation of superiority. Again another complex idea that can be broken down into many pieces and argued either way.

I'm not trying to take anything away from animals; as I know there are some very intelligent ones out there. Instincts are a powerful tool in nature, but so is humans ability to adapt. That is compounded when you add in the tools at our disposal.