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Saw the topic popping up in another thread, but want to bring it up here. Discuss.
What makes humanity special? Why exactly are we any "better" or "superior" than any other animal? Are there exceptions?
I'm of the sentience crowd: That sentience makes us special, rather than any particular form of "soul." There's no need to think of something mystical like that when we already have something special which sets us apart from others - our ability to be self-aware and have our environment adapt toward us, rather than vice-versa.
Of course, this would also mean that newborn babies themselves wouldn't be considered "human" (because they arn't fully sentient yet) and that if there were other sentient species, they would be on the same philosophical grounds, and be our equals. (Jokes of Dolphins/Mice aside, please
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What do you think?
What makes humanity special? Why exactly are we any "better" or "superior" than any other animal? Are there exceptions?
I'm of the sentience crowd: That sentience makes us special, rather than any particular form of "soul." There's no need to think of something mystical like that when we already have something special which sets us apart from others - our ability to be self-aware and have our environment adapt toward us, rather than vice-versa.
Of course, this would also mean that newborn babies themselves wouldn't be considered "human" (because they arn't fully sentient yet) and that if there were other sentient species, they would be on the same philosophical grounds, and be our equals. (Jokes of Dolphins/Mice aside, please
)What do you think?
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