What separates men from animals?

Answer 1

First and foremost, humans ARE animals.

Human Beings are an interesting species in that they believe somehow they are special, that their God created them in his image and they are more divine than other animals on the Planet. We have heard all the reasons why humans are better or different. That they can think, plan, dream, reason and have choice.

Surely you have pondered this question, yet if you have a pet; a dog or cat, you know they think. You watch them move their feet while sleeping they are dreaming about something obviously, running around the yard, chasing a mouse, whatever, what else could that be? Some say well only humans have empathy; that is utter and complete hokum and hogwash. We know dogs and chimpanzees have empathy that has been proven over and over again. Dolphins too, having rescued people drowning and left others to drown, obviously they are thinking about who to save and why.

Let me throw out a couple of other thoughts on this subject, as like you I too have thought here. In my conclusion of this thought and in all my observation of humans, I do not find a single redeeming quality or even a seriously debatable point that mankind has something extra that other animals do not have. Even sharks seem to reason and choose where to swim. Monkeys and Dogs have empathy.

One thing I have thought on is that humans can over come many of their innate tendencies, such as the need to procreate. Although other animals can do this, it appears to be much easier for human beings than other animals. However this might end up being our downfall of the species some day off in the future. I do not believe mankind is anything special, but as has been said they are mostly harmless.

One thing that makes humans unique might be that no other creature lives in such fantasy of self-importance or false ego. That must be it.

Our thumbs... Aside from that, about 0.01% of DNA in Humans vs. Primates The most important things that we have are a large brain and a capability for abstract thinking. This allows us to plan and correct our mistakes quickly if we wish to. Steven Hawkins has nothing but his mind and very little physical control he however is well distinguished from animals and most human beings.

Mostly :

a heel (best walkers)

speech (best communicators)

opposeable thumbs (best manipulators)

relative brain size (maybe intelligence)
The human specie is the only specie that can philosophize, practice and understand art, and we are the only ones that can write.

The human being is the most intelligent animal on earth and it is the animal that has the most influence on the world in the world. We have a very complex language.

We are the only animals that kill other animals for reasons other than food, such as for fun.

I will bet "the human specie" is the only animal that believes that! Tony Dahlin Venice
Humans are different from other mammals because we have opposable (bendable) thumbs.

Answer 2

Man's special characteristics, that make men different from animals include: language and thought, awareness of the difference between right and wrong, and the freedom to make choices. No plant or animal possesses these characteristics. From an anatomical point, man would be classified as a mammal, an animal with mammary glands, warmblooded and giving birth to live young (most at least, exception: platypus).

Resource: History of the World in Christian Perspective

Opinion

Not a lot really, as much as most humans like to think they are in total control of themselves it is not strictly true, humans may have better control of their base instincts but we all still have a part of the brain that we share with nearly all other animals and we don't have control of, that is the bit that causes the flight or fight response, when the chips are down the brain takes over and the consciousness that we think of as are selves is along for the ride. Some animals can communicate with each other so that is talking even if we don't understand it, some of the primates are self aware as can be seen when they are given mirrors to look at. Quite a few animals use tools all though they are usually things laying around so are not especially made for the job. The only difference that I can think of is that animals find a natural equilibrium with their surroundings were as humans through the use of technologies of one sort or the other are totally out of equilibrium with the planet and it will all end in tears for us but then the world will happily get on with out us.

There is just basic distinction of men from animals. Men have the ability to think rationally and the ability to reason out.

Our reasoning and the ability to understand technology. Animals are also distinct from us, we could not live in the wild as they do. We do not posses the correct survival skills to live without our technology and this is the bane of mankind and will lead to our downfall.

Mankind has the written word, there is that saying that society is two meals away from anarchy.

Answer 3

the 6 catagories look it up