Monday, March 2, 2009
Are Humans Immune to Extinction?
I started this blog as a comment to "Humans vs. Endangered" blog, and I really got into it because I think this is a really great subject. I feel that as humans we should take what we know and use it. We know there are animals about to go extinct, and we know that humans are a big part of the cause of why they are about to go extinct. But on another level we are intelligent beings that should be able to say, "hey wait" if we don't help these animals, then maybe we will be next. Can we really live without some species? Every animal is connected to every other animal in some way. I also refer to humans, we are apart of this web and when one string is cut disaster can happen. We must really ask ourselves if we should use what knowledge we have and help others in need: both nature and humans. We tend to view humans as superior to other things. On one hand I believe this; we have the power to think, make decisions, love, learn, and develop. On the other hand, many of those traits are the same with other animals, just in different ways. So I guess what I'm asking is, are superior? I haven't really gotten a clear sense of what Aristotle things of this question either. But if we are superior then I feel that we should be smart enough to stop our destructive ways and start helping our fellow species out there. Because ultimately, humans are not immune to the possibility of going extinct, the only difference is that we have the knowledge to foresee this possibility and do something about it .
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I'm not sure that I believe that we are superior to other animals. The thing that really sets us apart from the others is our capacity for language. If not for that, we'd be exactly the same, because without language there would be no religion, no government, and no culture. Are these not what people classify as civilization? Granted primates and some other animals do have their own way of communicating, it is not as developed as ours. Thus I think that is why most people view us as the superior life forms on this planet.
ReplyDeleteI think that main factor that separates humans from animals is our ability to reason. Humans are full of knowledge and have developed many complex language system, but it is our capability to process, articulate, and act, that separates people from animals such as primates. Ultimately, humans are mammals and although we have the ability to reason, there are still instinctive similarities to animals.
ReplyDeleteI agree that humans and animals are all interconnected, but wonder if it is possible that if a few species go extinct, it will start a chain reaction. I think that some species may be more connected to us than others, such as honey bees because they pollinate things, but I can't imagine that there isn't at least a few worthless species out there that eliminating will do nothing.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that some species we could do with out (platypus?), but I dont think that justifies ignoring them if they are going exstinct, especially if we have the capacity to help stop it.
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