Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: petelamana on 11/02/2018 12:37:41
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When I was a child I was taught that the cognitive separator between man and animals was that man used tools. Then several years later it was observed that otters indeed use rocks to break open the shells of mussels/clams. Okay. So the thought was changed. Man not only used tools, but he could create the tool he needed. Again, it was later observed that certain primates will strip the leaves off of long sticks in order to retrieve food from deep within termite mounds. Okay. Change again. Man not only used and created tools, but he would save them to use again. Once more it was observed that many of those same primates that made a stick tool would save it to use again. Okay. Yet, again. Man not only used, created, and saved tools, he would teach others how to use them. Can you guess what was then observed? You got. Okay. It kept going... Man uses, creates, saves, and teaches the use of tools, but he also developed a written language. OMG! To defeat that distinction it was shown that the marking of territory by many species can be considered a form of written language. (Though, I don't necessarily agree with that assertion.)
My question, considering the aforementioned, is ...
What is the current cognitive distinction between man and animal?
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There is none.
Not all human societies have a written language - in fact less than half of the recognised spoken languages have a written form.
The correct terminology is mankind and other animals.
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Thank you alancalverd. I happily stand corrected.
So, what is the distinction, cognitively, between mankind and other animals?
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So, what is the distinction, cognitively, between mankind and other animals?
Arguing on the internet.
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ROFLOL!!! I love it! :D
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As far as I know, humans are the only species capable of creating feedback loop technology. That is, technology whose existence allows for the development of even more advanced technology. Computers are a good example of this.
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As has been pointed out, humans are a subset of animals. Tool making and use has been observed in many different animal species, notably primates, birds (ravens and magpies), and octopuses. Several types of birds, and possibly cetaceans, also have very complex languages. Even some types of ants have mastered agriculture!
I would argue that there is not a clear line of only we do x, and they don't. It's really an issue of degree. And after all, many early hominids had fairly advanced tool-making, language, and abstract thought. None of them were human yet.
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What is the current distinction between man and animal?
"US" vs "THEM".
And "THEY" are obviously inferior to "US"!
This is an argument which has been used quite successfully over the years, usually without much objective evidence to support it.
Just by changing the narrowness of the definition of "US".
It is not that long since "THEY" have been:
- Blacks
- Jews
- Women
- Communists
- Neanderthals (ok, probably a lot of people still think Neanderthals are not "US", even though Europeans carry some of their DNA)
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As far as I know, humans are the only species capable of creating feedback loop technology. That is, technology whose existence allows for the development of even more advanced technology. Computers are a good example of this.
Termites have developed a remarkably complex technology by which they maintain climate control for comfort, growing food, and bringing the next generation to social maturity, without the use of fossil fuels or other finite resources. This didn't happen by magic but by evolution and experiment, and having found out how to do it, they have continued to do so for millions of years.
Humans have a long way to go in this area.
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So, what is the distinction, cognitively, between mankind and other animals?
A few bits of DNA, and a preference for bipedal stance. Though a Martian would have to look very hard to distinguish human DNA from a banana, or the human gait from that of a chicken.