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Author Topic:   What makes homo sapiens "human"?
1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 19 of 125 (119556)
06-28-2004 2:43 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by pink sasquatch
06-27-2004 7:12 PM


neurotic apes
What makes homo sapiens human is religion IMO.
In addition, humans make decisions not based merely on instinct but also based on emotions such as empathy. Humans are also sentient. But humans are animals therefore there is no distinction from animals other than being nuerotic apes. LOL.

"One is punished most for ones virtues" Fredrick Neitzche

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 31 of 125 (119776)
06-29-2004 12:50 AM


Hi Custard, I do not know if this constitutes "language" but there is an African Gray parrot named Alex that does more than merely mimic human speech. This bird uses appropriate words in appropriate ways and times. I personally own an african gray parrot and he does not say good night in the am. Nor does he say good morning in the nightime. When I come home he says hello, and when I leave he says good bye. Not by my prompting him. I believe this animal has learned to both speak and the meanings of these words and this in my opinion is using language.

"One is punished most for ones virtues" Fredrick Neitzche

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 33 of 125 (119779)
06-29-2004 1:07 AM
Reply to: Message 32 by custard
06-29-2004 12:55 AM


Hi, Custard I do not know if you have children, but how many in depth conversations have you had with a three year old? If language is leaning and using words to convey meaning then by definition the bird did so. I tried to give a link it does not work.. type in a search: {ALEX Parrot} for more information. I do not know if you have any knowlege of African Grey Parrots but they do seem to exhibit the ability to speak appropriate words, Yes mimic at first and then learn the use of the word. Just like a child would.

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 70 of 125 (119975)
06-29-2004 12:02 PM


If it looks like a duck.....
If it looks like a duck, quack likes a duck ..its a duck.
Custard would you agree humans are animals? If the answer is yes then would you agree humans are apes? If the answer is yes ; then would you agree that human language evolved from apes? And if so then how is it humans are the only creatures capable of language? If even the most rudimentary of language is present in other creatures then it IS present.

"One is punished most for ones virtues" Fredrick Neitzche

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 75 of 125 (120097)
06-29-2004 6:04 PM
Reply to: Message 71 by Dr Jack
06-29-2004 12:19 PM


Re: If it looks like a duck.....
Perhaps silly and simplistic and I agree bats are not fish. I tend to take a pantheistic approach to things. Bats and Fish are cordates and vertebrates. Fish can fly and bats can swim.

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 76 of 125 (120118)
06-29-2004 6:25 PM
Reply to: Message 74 by custard
06-29-2004 3:10 PM


Re: If it looks like a duck.....
Hi custard, I apologize if my line of thought is perturbing to you.
custard writes:
No. I wouldn't agree that human language evolved from trillobytes either.
Are humans apes or not? If your answer is yes then how is it humans have the monopoly on this word called language? When did Humans cease being apes? And when did ape/ animal communication begin to be called language? Is there a distinct line from human ancestors formulating communication to what is call language? I have been ignorant of what language is. I always thought that humans were animals with large brains that have evolved to the point of being able to communicate in very complex ways, and that this was Human language, but I always thought that other animals had language as well. I have learned something. Great topic custard *edit typo.
This message has been edited by 1.61803, 06-29-2004 05:27 PM

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 85 of 125 (120184)
06-29-2004 11:18 PM
Reply to: Message 81 by coffee_addict
06-29-2004 7:56 PM


Re: If it looks like a duck.....
Hi Lam, birds are bipedal as well as us hairless apes.
Ok, Humans are hominids as you have said. Early humans were hominids as well, we are in the order primates along with the apes. So I apologize for being misleading. Living Links | Page not found

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 87 of 125 (120191)
06-29-2004 11:38 PM
Reply to: Message 86 by coffee_addict
06-29-2004 11:27 PM


Re: If it looks like a duck.....
Your one of the smartest people I don't know Lam. Sorry off topic but Custard has dug his heels into this language thread and has defended his premise with valor and merit, To bad I still do not completely agree

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1.61803
Member (Idle past 1504 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 114 of 125 (147864)
10-06-2004 4:53 PM
Reply to: Message 113 by Robert Byers
10-05-2004 4:31 PM


Robert Byers writes:
The essence of man clearly is our soul, spirit and mind.
Unless of course one does not believe the soul and spirit exist. Also one must also accept that something called a essence also exist. Plato and Aristotle in addition to many early theologians such as Thomas Aquinas believed in essences, but we have come along way in the past 3 to 2 thousand years.
Robert Byers writes:
Unlike animals people are motivated by love, hate,pity, envy pride, genoristy, awareness of right and wrong and rebelling against what one believes. On and on. While animals have non of these motives.
What are people if not highly intelligent animals?
Also some other animals can exibit love, shame, genoristy, awarness of right and wrong. My own dog is capable of all those things.
My dog knows the difference between right and wrong. He shares his food with other dogs, he shows guilt and shame when he is caught doing something he knows he should not. He expresses love, he expresses joy, happiness. How is it humans have the monopoly on all these traits?

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