what is an animal?

[Evilbunny]

I've always defined an animal as a creature that eats other living things and is not a person. But, does that mean the Protoss from starcraft would be animals? I mean, they're just as smart as humans, actually they're smarter. So I think it would be unfair to put them in the same category as say, a cow. What about elves, or orcs? Are all those things animals? What about cro-magnon man or Neanderthals? At what point does a creature cease to be an animal?

 

[Danny Ocean]

I think every living thing, that isn't a plant, is an animal.

Including us.

 

[DARKLARK]

Im an animal... A PARTY ANIMAL
yes first to say it!

 

[SeaCalMaster]

Technically speaking, humans are animals. If you want a definition, here's one from Wiktionary:

"a multicellular organism that is usually mobile, whose cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall and which derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms"

By the way, HBrutusH, your definition is incorrect, as there are bacteria, fungi, and protists in addition to plants and animals.

 

[wewontdie11]

Speaking as a Biology student an animal is an organism that falls under the kingdom of animalia, and is therefore a eukaryotic, multicellular creature, usually with an internal transport system like the circulatory system.

I think I understand what you are trying to get at though, at what point does a species such as ours develop "humanity". I think that would be at the stage when a fairly sophisticated social network is established, a certain degree of intelligence is reached and to some degree the presence of a conscience or some sense of morality.

You should also look at some cases of feral children, and see if you would consider them to be human by your reasoning or mine.

I think every living thing, that isn't a plant, is an animal.

Including us.

Edit: Not even close my friend, there are billions of organisms that are neither plant or animal, such as all fungi, prokaryotic organisms and protoctista.

 

[kbag08]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal

wikipedia - always useful..

 

[Danny Ocean]

I think every living thing, that isn't a plant, is an animal.

Including us.

Edit: Not even close my friend, there are billions of organisms that are neither plant or animal, such as all fungi, prokaryotic organisms and protoctista.

Yes, yes. You're learning Biology, kudos ;P. I can't have been far off, since you understood enough of what I said to correct me.
If I'd have said, "any living thing is an animal," it would've been even worse. Remember it's 1am here.

 

[Noamuth]

A miserable little pile..

..

Oh wait. Damn.

 

[wewontdie11]

I think every living thing, that isn't a plant, is an animal.

Including us.

Edit: Not even close my friend, there are billions of organisms that are neither plant or animal, such as all fungi, prokaryotic organisms and protoctista.

Yes, yes. You're learning Biology, kudos ;P. I can't have been far off, since you understood enough of what I said to correct me.
If I'd have said, "any living thing is an animal," it would've been even worse. Remember it's 1am here.

Yea I'm in England/Europe too, its far too early for science, just figured you should know. Can't hurt to know the facts.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Yea I'm in England/Europe too, its far too early for science, just figured you should know. Can't hurt to know the facts.

Hehe, yeah.
Thanks

 

[Evilbunny]

Ok, maybe I should rephrase the question. At what point does a creature attain humanity?

 

[Dinnj]

When it falls under "Homo Sapiens"....

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

Ok, maybe I should rephrase the question. At what point does a creature attain humanity?

When it asks you to stop eating it.

 

[Dinnj]

If you start to eat a dog alive would it not yelp? If you took a chunk out of a cat would it not miaow? If you started mauling a chimp would it not shriek? Just because they don't speak our language doesn't mean they want to be eaten...

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

If you start to eat a dog alive would it not yelp? If you took a chunk out of a cat would it not miaow? If you started mauling a chimp would it not shriek? Just because they don't speak our language doesn't mean they want to be eaten...

Yes, but those animals have been eaten in the past and also all animals react to you trying to kill/eat them so saying a reaction should stop you killing an animal then we shouldn't eat any meat. I just think we made it to the top of the food chain therefore everything below us is fair game.

 

[Doug]

I think I understand what you are trying to get at though, at what point does a species such as ours develop "humanity". I think that would be at the stage when a fairly sophisticated social network is established, a certain degree of intelligence is reached and to some degree the presence of a conscience or some sense of morality.

I think that includes Chimps and similar primates. Dophins too, I think. I would say Ants, Bees, and other hive-type species, but they don't really have a moral code.

 

[Danny Ocean]

I think that includes Chimps and similar primates. Dophins too, I think. I would say Ants, Bees, and other hive-type species, but they don't really have a moral code.

How do you know?
*twilight*

For all we know, all the insects in the world share a massive hive-mind-like conscienceness, and all are scheming to take over the world with many stings and bites!

 

[Johnn Johnston]

If I recall from when we covered this in Biology: Any multi-cellular organism (rules out protactista and prokaryotes) that cannot make its own food (rules out plants) and can move (rules out fungi) is an animal. It remains an animals, regardless of intelligence or capability of learning. I think of humans as being animals - but us being the highest order of animals.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

when they politely kick our ass for showing them having sex on the discovery channel.

 

[Danny Ocean]

After years of perverted observation, the squirrels decide to get their own back on Bill Oddy.

Spoiler: Image