What Makes Humans Beings Unique -&- Would a chimp make a good date?
Immortalist
other primates but have a number of distinct structures; For instance,
a direct outgrowth of the size and structure of the human brain, along
with their origins in the complexity of human social groups, was the
development of language, self-awareness and ethics.
If we address the nature of consciousness, by comparing the
intellectual capabilities of a host of animals (chimps, dogs, birds
and rats, among others) with those of human babies, children and
adults, we all share as well as what humans alone possess.
We need to think through human characteristics, and decide whether
they are in fact distinctly human. Ours really is a bigger, more
complex noggin than that of any other species, Gazzaniga asks: Would a
chimp make a good date? Meaning: Are we justified in imputing
humanlike thought to animals such as chimps or dogs?
No, they fail tests for theory-of-mind, the ability to act on the
knowledge that other creatures have their own thoughts. Humans
innately acquire that skill - demonstrated through descriptions of
cognitive studies of children - so what’s it for? He finds answers in
the universal proclivity to talk, mostly about other people. From
gossip to morals to art...
...humans are alike and different from other animals... ...although
most human activity can be related to antecedents in other animals,
somewhere in the evolution of our brain the equivalent of a "phase
shift" occurred and we became unique...
If in a future where brain signals are tapped to control prosthetic
devices; in robotics and artificial intelligence, where manmade
devices take over Man's "dull, dangerous, or dirty" chores; and in
gene therapy and "genetic engineering," where the Pandora's Box of
manipulating our very nature may be creaking open then what are the
promises and dangers of gene and other biological manipulations?
What about hard problems such as why there is art; the attraction to
fictional experiences - stories, plays, paintings, and music - is
puzzling from an evolutionary perspective. Why does the brain contain
reward systems that make fictional experiences enjoyable? Is it simply
because involvement with the imaginative arts is self-rewarding
without an obvious functional payoff?
The answer is that fictional thinking engages innate "play" modules
that enhance fitness by allowing us to consider possible alternatives
- hypothetical scenarios - so that we can form plans in advance of
dangers, hazards, or even unpleasant social scenarios. It would be
fitness enhancing to learn to hide or run from a predator, or stalk
and search for food, before one actually needs to do it for survival.
The amount of play is correlated with species' brain size, and play is
practice for real life; From having read the fictional story about the
boy who cried wolf. . .we can remember what happened...and not have to
learn that lesson the hard way in real life. The more fictional
stories we hear, the more circumstances we become familiar with...The
arts are not frosting but baking soda."
http://www.amazon.com/Human-Science-Behind-Makes-Unique/dp/0060892889
ZerkonXXXX
> If we address the nature of consciousness by comparing the intellectual
> capabilities of a host of animals..
Whoa there, first how clear is this nature of consciousness in comparing
a host of humans?
> somewhere in the evolution of our brain the equivalent of a "phase
> shift" occurred and we became unique...
...like *POOF*
> The arts are not frosting but baking soda."
Clever clever. BTW, what is art?
Dr. Gazzaniga, I would suggest exploring the subject of what brain phase
must poof-shift when a scientist panders to a commercial audience.
There must be a better way to communicate serious study to a larger
audience. Maybe by making the original peer reviewed work more accessible
as is being done at some universities, then the publishing houses could
publish commentaries and debates over these.
These very easy and very breezy explanations to everything ARE NOT a good
thing. They present a false sense of certainty which some have had quite
enough of and others are dying today because of it.
Bluuuue Rajah
be7a-54e...@p4g2000vba.googlegroups.com:
> Would a chimp make a good date?
Is the chimp male, female, liberal or conservative?
Hoots
If it pays, does it matter?
Bluuuue Rajah
news:insWl.51228$qa....@bignews4.bellsouth.net:
You're right. Dubya *was* a whore.