There's no consensus on the question of what makes us special, or whether we even are. The biggest point of contention is whether our cognitive abilities differ from those of other animals "in kind," or merely in degree. Are we in a class by ourselves or just the smartest ones in our class?
Charles Darwin supported the latter hypothesis. He believed we are similar to animals, and merely incrementally more intelligent as a result of our higher evolution. But according to Marc Hauser, director of the cognitive evolution lab at Harvard University, in a recent article in Scientific American, "mounting evidence indicates that, in contrast to Darwin's theory of a continuity of mind between humans and other species, a profound gap separates our intellect from the animal kind."
Hauser and his colleagues have identified four abilities of the human mind that they believe to be the essence of our "humaniqueness" mental traits and abilities that distinguish us from our fellow Earthlings. They are: generative computation, promiscuous combination of ideas, the use of mental symbols, and abstract thought.
1. Generative computation
Humans can generate a practically limitless variety of words and concepts. We do so through two modes of operation recursive and combinatorial. The recursive operation allows us to apply a learned rule to create new expressions. In combinatorial operations, we mix different learned elements to create a new concept.
2. Promiscuous combination of ideas
"Promiscuous combination of ideas," Hauser explained, "allows the mingling of different domains of knowledge such as art, sex, space, causality and friendship thereby generating new laws, social relationships and technologies."
3. Mental symbols
Mental symbols are our way of encoding sensory experiences. They form the basis of our complex systems of language and communication. We may choose to keep our mental symbols to ourselves, or represent them to others using words or pictures.
4. Abstract thought
Abstract thought is the contemplation of things beyond what we can sense.
"This is not to say that our mental faculties sprang fully formed out of nowhere," Hauser wrote. "Researchers have found some of the building blocks of human cognition in other species. But these building blocks make up only the cement foot print of the skyscraper that is the human mind. The evolutionary origins of our cognitive abilities thus remain rather hazy. Clarity is emerging from novel insights and experimental technologies, however."
Humans have the ability to create complex languages, develop advanced technology, engage in abstract thinking and problem-solving, and exhibit self-awareness and consciousness to a greater extent than most other animals. Additionally, humans have developed sophisticated social structures and cultural practices that are unique in the animal kingdom.
Humans are animals. Gene differences distinguish us from other specie of animal, and there are many which contribute to our high sognitive processing skills.
family members, love, food
by color
The only other group of mammals that is able to distinguish colors is the cat family. Several animals are color blind, or see in black and white.?æ
A culture will reliably distinguish herpes from chickenpox
Humans
You probably mean distinguish. He will distinguish himself on the team. You can distinguish the two animals by the length of their tails.
precision grip
The only other group of mammals that can distinguish colors would be the prime apes and African monkeys. Studies of the cones in the eyes of other animals can prove they see color but not how the interpret the color.
its bill.
cats also can distinguish there color