Humans and Animals

[flashgriffin]

Are humans animals? Are we ruled by reason? Or instinct? Or both?

What are your opinions fellow Escapists?

Personally, I believe that while humans are in fact ruled by reason, there will always be that push, the underlying animal in humans pushing us along. As a musician, I feel that while we celebrate our ability to reason unlike any other creature on this planet, our underlying animal instinct pushes us along without our knowledge. For instance, jazz is a fairly free form style of music (when compared with classical for instance). When the musician enters a section and begins to improvise his/her own music, then you don't have time to think of the next logical step. The music flows through you, and your instincts guide you from note to note.

 

[delet]

The Matrix explained it best: Humans are Viruses. We use the earth's resources and repopulate till we can't no more, then we move on to a new planet (We're getting to that point soon-ish.) Go team Virus!

 

[YouCallMeNighthawk]

We are mammals. We run by the most basic instincts that the animal kingdom does, survival and territory.

 

[grimsprice]

Flametastic.

While this isn't explicitly about religion. It should be in the Religion and Politics section. Because it will be about religion eventually.

OT: Yes, we are animals. Scientists haven't found anything that differentiates us from animals. If you know of something i'd love to hear it.

 

[Marter]

By definition, yes, we are animals. We're different from other creatures out there though, so I think we should be classified as animals with an asterisk beside our species.

 

[Dags90]

Are humans animals? Are we ruled by reason? Or instinct? Or both?

Humans are social animals, our instinct is to reason. False dichotomy is false. It's how we've adapted to spread our genes.

 

[Swarley]

Being able to improvise is just a measure of creativity, not instinct, so I'm not sure how that is at all relevant to the point you're trying to make.

OT: Literally, yes. Philosophically, no. Modern humans function less and less based on biological drives and more on social agendas, which is not a part of instinct. Culture dictates far more to society than biological processes.

 

[TheTaco007]

We're absolutely animals. We're just very smart ones. (Well some of us are smart... others spend their time on 4chan...)

 

[demoman_chaos]

We aren't really plants, now are we? Are we? Are we?!

 

[flashgriffin]

Being able to improvise is just a measure of creativity, not instinct, so I'm not sure how that is at all relevant to the point you're trying to make.

OT: Literally, yes. Philosophically, no. Modern humans function less and less based on biological drives and more on social agendas, which is not a part of instinct. Culture dictates far more to society than biological processes.

While I agree in part with your view about creativity, don't forget that when a piece of music is moving at 160 BPM (beats per minute) it's mighty hard to be incredibly creative. Letting the music flow through you and making the next move without thinking about it is where the instinct kicks in.

 

[Swarley]

Being able to improvise is just a measure of creativity, not instinct, so I'm not sure how that is at all relevant to the point you're trying to make.

OT: Literally, yes. Philosophically, no. Modern humans function less and less based on biological drives and more on social agendas, which is not a part of instinct. Culture dictates far more to society than biological processes.

While I agree in part with your view about creativity, don't forget that when a piece of music is moving at 160 BPM (beats per minute) it's mighty hard to be incredibly creative. Letting the music flow through you and making the next move without thinking about it is where the instinct kicks in.

That type of instinct is completely separate from the biological meaning of the word, in the form that you presented instinct is something ingrained in most members of a species naturally, not something they learn.

 

[Verex]

According to our classification system, we are not animals because of our DNA structure and awareness of emotions...yada yada yada. We're mammals, but not animals.

 

[Dags90]

According to our classification system, we are not animals because of our DNA structure and awareness of emotions...yada yada yada. We're mammals, but not animals.

Mammals are in the animal kingdom.

Why does everyone act like altruism doesn't exist in the animal kingdom and seem completely ignorant to social animals like ants? Even bacteria can seem altruistic.

 

[Verex]

According to our classification system, we are not animals because of our DNA structure and awareness of emotions...yada yada yada. We're mammals, but not animals.

Mammals are in the animal kingdom.

Why does everyone act like altruism doesn't exist in the animal kingdom and seem completely ignorant to social animals like ants?

Not to the extent of humans.

 

[Revolutionary]

We certainly evolved from them. So we keep some of their traits.

 

[Dags90]

Not to the extent of humans.

So at some arbitrary point sufficient development of one arbitrarily decided characteristic causes a species to transcend biological classification?