KillerMuffin
Seraphically Disinclined
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- Jul 29, 2000
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What is the human condition? What defines us? What makes us human and not beast or object?
The Human Condition
- Thread starter KillerMuffin
- Start date
morninggirl5
Secret Dream Machine
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the ability to reason and solve problems
Barb Dwyer
Literotica Guru
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Opposable thumbs.
And a few other things.
The most basic difference is our marked faculty for language and higher communication skills.
Humans have well formed rational faculties. We have the ability to develop an argument, follow a line of logic, draw conclusions and frame hypotheses based on same.
It is through language that we are able to summarize our experiences and pass them from one generation to the next. This helps us avoid repeating mistakes or reinventing that which has already been discovered.
We communicate our wants and needs and help propagate our species through both verbal and non verbal skills.
And our capacity for compassion, love and forgiveness.
And a few other things.
The most basic difference is our marked faculty for language and higher communication skills.
Humans have well formed rational faculties. We have the ability to develop an argument, follow a line of logic, draw conclusions and frame hypotheses based on same.
It is through language that we are able to summarize our experiences and pass them from one generation to the next. This helps us avoid repeating mistakes or reinventing that which has already been discovered.
We communicate our wants and needs and help propagate our species through both verbal and non verbal skills.
And our capacity for compassion, love and forgiveness.
cactiphile
Really Really Experienced
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- 417
Barb Dwyer said:
Hmmm don't think ur on the same planet as I am.
What makes us human is our ability to suffer
and still come back for more whilst laughing.
Cactiphile
unusuallyconfused
BLUE EYED BABE
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So many deep questions today. I would say that we have lots of things that separate us from animals. We experience such a wide range of emotion from love, hate, envy, greed, happiness, silliness, etc.......We also have intelligence to create, spirit to inspire, feelings, ............
We have responsibilities and consequences. It is so much more than the animal kingdom.
I personally believe in heaven/hell because it would all be meaningless otherwise. I believe therefore that there is some strong meaning in our lives. That I believe ultimately is the reason for the "human condition".
This is what I choose to believe. Don't kick my ass because I choose to believe this, I am not up for that today.
We have responsibilities and consequences. It is so much more than the animal kingdom.
I personally believe in heaven/hell because it would all be meaningless otherwise. I believe therefore that there is some strong meaning in our lives. That I believe ultimately is the reason for the "human condition".
This is what I choose to believe. Don't kick my ass because I choose to believe this, I am not up for that today.
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
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I've asked that...
...question before but not couched in the same terms.
I can't understand why Man has progressed so far so fast whereas other creatures (sharks, cockroaches) are still the same as they were millions of years ago.
What happened to us to give us that extra boost and kick us into overdrive?...
...question before but not couched in the same terms.
I can't understand why Man has progressed so far so fast whereas other creatures (sharks, cockroaches) are still the same as they were millions of years ago.
What happened to us to give us that extra boost and kick us into overdrive?...
morninggirl5
Secret Dream Machine
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Re: I've asked that...
Our ability to reason and problem solve first represented in the making of tools. While other animals use objects as tools, our ancestors were the first to deliberately fashion tools.
p_p_man said:
Our ability to reason and problem solve first represented in the making of tools. While other animals use objects as tools, our ancestors were the first to deliberately fashion tools.
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
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Re: Re: I've asked that...
Yes true. But my point has always been why did our minds of all the creatures on the face of the earth take the direction of being able to reason and thus use tools and so on.
If we were the only ones why? And what force gave us the ability to reason?
Bigger brains?
Different cell structure?
A sudden chemical change in our bodies (and if so what caused that)
I doubt if I will ever find an answer that will satisfy me.
morninggirl5 said:
Yes true. But my point has always been why did our minds of all the creatures on the face of the earth take the direction of being able to reason and thus use tools and so on.
If we were the only ones why? And what force gave us the ability to reason?
Bigger brains?
Different cell structure?
A sudden chemical change in our bodies (and if so what caused that)
I doubt if I will ever find an answer that will satisfy me.
Pyper
Lurking
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2000
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- 12,211
Never,
Damn. Just damn.
As for this question...lemme see if I can sum up the anthropological view briefly.
One: Contrary to popular belief, humans are not more "evolved" that other animals. We are not more complex. We are not "higher up" on the evolutionary chain. And we are not the most recently evolved either.
Two: Many other animals have the ability to reason and problem solve, most notably among the great apes. Chimpanzees also make and use tools in the wild. They have a complex toolkit, with different tools for different problems.
Three: Why are humans different? Well, we ain't. Not that different. We are definitely the smartest beings on the planet, but we aren't separated by a huge chasm from the rest of the animal kingdom. Many anthropologists are vying for humans and the great apes to be placed in the same family, based on the argument that humans and apes are not different in type or kind, but only in degree. We are the same, except with bigger brains and less hair.
If anybody wants an actual evolutionary story of how humans branched off from apes...well you can't have it. At least not tonight. I spent the whole morning writing about this damn topic for a final paper, and you ain't getting anything more intellectual out of me until I've had a good sleep. G'Night.
Damn. Just damn.
As for this question...lemme see if I can sum up the anthropological view briefly.
One: Contrary to popular belief, humans are not more "evolved" that other animals. We are not more complex. We are not "higher up" on the evolutionary chain. And we are not the most recently evolved either.
Two: Many other animals have the ability to reason and problem solve, most notably among the great apes. Chimpanzees also make and use tools in the wild. They have a complex toolkit, with different tools for different problems.
Three: Why are humans different? Well, we ain't. Not that different. We are definitely the smartest beings on the planet, but we aren't separated by a huge chasm from the rest of the animal kingdom. Many anthropologists are vying for humans and the great apes to be placed in the same family, based on the argument that humans and apes are not different in type or kind, but only in degree. We are the same, except with bigger brains and less hair.
If anybody wants an actual evolutionary story of how humans branched off from apes...well you can't have it. At least not tonight. I spent the whole morning writing about this damn topic for a final paper, and you ain't getting anything more intellectual out of me until I've had a good sleep. G'Night.
Never
Come What May
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2000
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- 23,234
Forget the 'human condition stuff; let's focus on what's important..
Breasts.
Like, when my coworker tells me she's glad we don't have a dress code because she likes to wear tank tops without a bra am I allowed to reach up and honk one? How about both?
I mean, even if it's just been brainwashed into me, breasts are pretty cool.
Breasts.
Like, when my coworker tells me she's glad we don't have a dress code because she likes to wear tank tops without a bra am I allowed to reach up and honk one? How about both?
I mean, even if it's just been brainwashed into me, breasts are pretty cool.
Svedish_Chef
On Walkabout
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- Apr 26, 2000
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- 9,937
Never said:
I like to know how it was brainwashed into you ....
I think you shouldn't be able to honk them... but definitely a little fondle to give them some 'support' and let them know they are wanted.
Svedish_Chef
On Walkabout
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2000
- Posts
- 9,937
Never said:
Pyper?
Now thats what I am talking about, just a little bit of affection to know that they are appreciated.
KillerMuffin
Seraphically Disinclined
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- Jul 29, 2000
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So, do animals have a soul? Do people have a soul? Are souls what make us different? If we do have a soul, what is it?
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
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- Feb 18, 2001
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wow!!...
some questions...
what questions...
I don't believe in souls as defined by the church.
I think that our consciousness is nothing more than a series of electro-chemical reactions
I believe that all existence is connected
I believe that nothing can be destroyed entirely
SO:
When we die:
I believe we still exist. In what shape, form or consciousness I don't know
I believe the same of animals
of plants
of the chair in your living room
and of Martians
Nothing can be destroyed entirely
KillerMuffin said:
some questions...
what questions...
I don't believe in souls as defined by the church.
I think that our consciousness is nothing more than a series of electro-chemical reactions
I believe that all existence is connected
I believe that nothing can be destroyed entirely
SO:
When we die:
I believe we still exist. In what shape, form or consciousness I don't know
I believe the same of animals
of plants
of the chair in your living room
and of Martians
Nothing can be destroyed entirely
