copyright © 2016
by Robert L. Blau
It is clear that humankind is
of a different order than the beasts. Precisely what it is that
separates human from nonhuman has been a matter of scientific and
philosophical debate since the beginnings of science and philosophy.
Several theories have been advanced. Here, in no particular
order, are some of the more popular ones.
1. Intelligence. But high intelligence has been verified in
dolphins, apes, dogs, and birds, to name a few. (And see tool
use, below.)
2. Tool use. But this has also been observed in
chimpanzees, octopuses, birds, and otters, among others.
3. Self-awareness or self-consciousness. But this also
occurs among apes, dolphins, elephants, and birds.
4. Imagination. This one seems to have particularly strong
legs among humans. Yet it has been observed among gorillas,
bonobos, and chimpanzees, at least. Perhaps humans imagine that only humans can
imagine.
At last, however, we have the answer. There is one
incontrovertible characteristic that separates Homo sapiens from the
lesser beasts, and here it is:
Humans are assholes!
They're
the only known asshole species in the history of the planet. The
only one to use its intelligence to kill itself. They only
species to apply tool use to self-slaughter. The only species to
use its self-consciousness to eliminate consciousness from others of
its kind. The only species to imagine that it has the right
-- nay, duty! -- to torture and slaughter, not only other species,
but others of its own species because ... well, just because.
Glad that's cleared up.