We are absolutely a brief incident in the context of the universe, but evolution doesn’t make mistakes because evolution doesn’t have a goal. Ultimately nothing changes because nothing matters already.
Whales, dolphins, elephants, dogs, and a massive number of animals clearly exhibit signs of being self aware and intelligence. Sure, it is mostly mammals that amass in groups which show the clearest sign, but a lot of birds show strong hints as well.
We aren’t even the only animal that uses language or tools!
Plenty of animals show self awareness and even theories of mind (they model the personalities of those around them to predict outcomes).
There’s plenty of other intelligent and self-aware beings around. It’s more likely to be a communications issue that prevents us from readily perceiving the sophistication of other social species.
Articulate dialogue and dexterity of tool use are basically all that separates us from other species. We’re no where near as superior as most people intuite. Your sense of superiority is an intuition, a guess.
Give seals, or dogs a voice box and hands, and they’d soon breed up the rest of what makes humans, human.
I see dogs using those speech buttons on the internet and talking about their dreams to their owners and cannot believe that humans are the only animals with consciousness.
I’m not aware of any evidence to suggest that many living animals aren’t highly self-aware. What is it that you think separates humans so decisively?
Now if you talk about this late-stage, high-tech, message-dense civilisation being responsible for much of that, then I agree, but I’d also point out that it’s a recent construction. Genetically we’re still the same as our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who had none of that stuff.
So what would make those humans from about 6K - 12Kyrs so unique compared to other animals…?
There’s nothing that I think should mean any species capable of experiencing shouldn’t also experience their self within the scope of their awareness. However, I think mankind is a logical kind of animal. Applying logic to the phenomenon of self awareness, e.g., asking about one’s character and goals, is likely unique to humans in my view.
We are absolutely a brief incident in the context of the universe, but evolution doesn’t make mistakes because evolution doesn’t have a goal. Ultimately nothing changes because nothing matters already.
Also, I’d say self-awareness is an ancient concept going back many millions of years at the very least.
We humans tend to think of ourselves as unique among animals, but we are arguably share almost all of our internals and concepts with other animals.
deleted by creator
Whales, dolphins, elephants, dogs, and a massive number of animals clearly exhibit signs of being self aware and intelligence. Sure, it is mostly mammals that amass in groups which show the clearest sign, but a lot of birds show strong hints as well.
We aren’t even the only animal that uses language or tools!
Chickens are incredibly intelligent and self aware.
Plenty of animals show self awareness and even theories of mind (they model the personalities of those around them to predict outcomes).
There’s plenty of other intelligent and self-aware beings around. It’s more likely to be a communications issue that prevents us from readily perceiving the sophistication of other social species.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind_in_animals
Articulate dialogue and dexterity of tool use are basically all that separates us from other species. We’re no where near as superior as most people intuite. Your sense of superiority is an intuition, a guess.
Give seals, or dogs a voice box and hands, and they’d soon breed up the rest of what makes humans, human.
I see dogs using those speech buttons on the internet and talking about their dreams to their owners and cannot believe that humans are the only animals with consciousness.
I’m not aware of any evidence to suggest that many living animals aren’t highly self-aware. What is it that you think separates humans so decisively?
Now if you talk about this late-stage, high-tech, message-dense civilisation being responsible for much of that, then I agree, but I’d also point out that it’s a recent construction. Genetically we’re still the same as our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who had none of that stuff.
So what would make those humans from about 6K - 12Kyrs so unique compared to other animals…?
There’s nothing that I think should mean any species capable of experiencing shouldn’t also experience their self within the scope of their awareness. However, I think mankind is a logical kind of animal. Applying logic to the phenomenon of self awareness, e.g., asking about one’s character and goals, is likely unique to humans in my view.
It has the goal of living.
That’s just a happy little accident.
That’s what my mom calls me
Entropy is the goal.