25-08-2005 03:46									#1
	What makes humanity special? Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Saw the topic popping up in another thread, but want to bring it up here. Discuss.

What makes humanity special? Why exactly are we any "better" or "superior" than any other animal? Are there exceptions?

I'm of the sentience crowd: That sentience makes us special, rather than any particular form of "soul." There's no need to think of something mystical like that when we already have something special which sets us apart from others - our ability to be self-aware and have our environment adapt toward us, rather than vice-versa.

Of course, this would also mean that newborn babies themselves wouldn't be considered "human" (because they arn't fully sentient yet) and that if there were other sentient species, they would be on the same philosophical grounds, and be our equals. (Jokes of Dolphins/Mice aside, please )

What do you think?

	25-08-2005 03:49									#2
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quote: what makes humanity special?

our ability to post silly questions on internet forums, of course.

	25-08-2005 03:55									#3
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We aren't special. There are bacteria that I consider more special than most of humanity.

	25-08-2005 03:55									#4
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And you had me stop drinking my green tea for reading this

	25-08-2005 03:55									#5
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humans aren't special...

but we think we are...

	25-08-2005 03:56									#6
	Re: What makes humanity special? Increase Your PM Length

We are mankind. Ergo, we're special in our own eyes.

	25-08-2005 03:58									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Krill We aren't special. There are bacteria that I consider more special than most of humanity.

Wow so every time I take an antibiotic, do I commit a genocide?

	25-08-2005 04:02									#8
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btw Krillīs avatar

	25-08-2005 04:04									#9
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I never said that I consider the bacteria themselves to be particulary important, either...

	25-08-2005 04:07									#10
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quote: What makes humanity special?

well i can go on and explain it in like a big book full of fancy words but that will take forever to make and read but to make it a little bit easier. what makes humanity special? well....er...hmz...well basically....ME...

ok now we can close the thread and be done with it because we all have the answer now...

	25-08-2005 04:27									#11
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nuclear weapons

	25-08-2005 04:46									#12
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souls

which I think every sentient being has.. and I don't think can naturally be divorced from a body

JM

	25-08-2005 04:50									#13
	Re: What makes humanity special? Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Specialness is a value judgement. Only humans can make value judgements. Thus, humans are what make humans special.

	25-08-2005 05:00									#14
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I'm waiting for any other species to argue in their own favor. If none come forward by noon tomorrow then humanity wins by default.

	25-08-2005 05:04									#15
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What makes humanity special?

Homer
Plato
Socrates
Bach
Mozart
Hugo
DaVinci
Hendrix
Jagger and Richards
and so on and so forth

	25-08-2005 05:04									#16
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Pamela Anderson

	25-08-2005 05:08									#17
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Our thumbs and the big clump of cells in our heads.

	25-08-2005 05:09									#18
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Porn

	25-08-2005 05:09									#19
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We can have sex whenever we want, instead of having to wait for the female to be fertile.

	25-08-2005 05:10									#20
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Table manners (sometimes) and a track record for being clever.

-=Vel=-

	25-08-2005 05:10									#21
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So if sentience is the defining factor then why wouldn't you associate the same "special" with some of the higher fins?

Dolphins, Orcas and a number of other whale species, as well as being sentient, have been shown to display creativity and are thought to dream as well.

[Edit: Naturally I can't speak terribly highly of their table manners of course ]

	25-08-2005 05:12									#22
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Maybe they're sentient, but they don't have porn

	25-08-2005 05:13									#23
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What definition of sentience are we using here, in regards to the marine mammals?

	25-08-2005 05:14									#24
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Hmmm... methinks that somewhere, in the deepest, darkest corners of the internet, there is indeed orca porn.

	25-08-2005 05:15									#25
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How can you tell that algae donīt have Bach as well? Maybe we just canīt hear anything

	25-08-2005 05:16									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Guynemer What definition of sentience are we using here, in regards to the marine mammals?

More to the point, what definition of sentience are we using with regard to humans?

	25-08-2005 05:16									#27
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Quite agree (and personally, I find those creatures you mentioned to be fascinating in the extreme...wish we'd spend more time seeing if we could communicate with them effectively).

It's possible that they hold themselves in the same high regard that we do, (although I shudder to think what they must feel toward us).

A pity they have not used their cleverness and creativity to build any sort of devices...I'd be interested to see some dolphin technology...personally, I think that'd rock...

-=Vel=-

	25-08-2005 05:17									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Guynemer What definition of sentience are we using here, in regards to the marine mammals?

Capable of eating fish as a reward for jumping through hoops.

quote: Originally posted by Guynemer Hmmm... methinks that somewhere, in the deepest, darkest corners of the internet, there is indeed orca porn.

Google confirms your suspicions. However, I remain unconvinced that orca derives any sexual gratification from orca porn.

	25-08-2005 05:20									#29
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Indeed....Google confirms those suspicions. Type in "orca porn" on a google search...fifth entry down when I did...ech....*shakes head*

-=Vel=-

	25-08-2005 05:24									#30
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We're not.