Thumbs?

[Eli]

In various discussions about evolution I remember hearing(reading) people talking about thumbs being one of the big human advantages over other animals.

Can anyone clarify this point? It sounds odd.

[JohnT]

Grasping.

[BeBMan]

Think on the Romans, no gladiator bttles without thumbs....

[Solly]

Cut off your thumbs and let us know.

[JohnT]

Think about tying your shoes without thumbs.

[JohnT]

Of course, the truly big difference, the one from which all else follows, is the ability to walk upright.

[BeBMan]

I´ve heard thumbs are also neccessary for save masturbating....

[mrmitchell]

Thumbs, upright walking, and sentience are tied IMO. Thumbs allow us to build complex tools, sentience lets us think up the complex tools, and upright walking lets us use them.

[Eli]

While we're at it, what's the big deal with walking upright?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Getting from one patch of trees to another with enough weaponry in your now available hands to not get eaten.

[JohnT]

Walking upright gives us two arms instead of four legs, you know?

Also allows for the growth of fingers, including the thumb.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by mrmitchell
Thumbs, upright walking, and sentience are tied IMO. Thumbs allow us to build complex tools, sentience lets us think up the complex tools, and upright walking lets us use them.

thumbs up

On a side note, this is why I don't think monkeys or dolphins are NEARLY as intelligent as humans - they have no use for it, so why would they evolve it?

[Edan]

The big deal is opposable thumbs - without thumbs, making tools and such would be much harder. Even more worrying, we wouldn't have

[Kuciwalker]

I gotta see that!

[mrmitchell]

I had forgotten about that!