What makes us Human - Kate Adie

pinkquartz

Many good things are going on we just hear about the destructive and ugly stuff

Do you think this is down to what's reported on the media or as humans we tend to focus on the negatives rather than the positives ?

We have consciousness and can make choices .that many are motivated by greed and other horrible agendas doesn't detract from the good people can do .

Many good things are going on we just hear about the destructive and ugly stuff.

At school, 50 odd years ago, we were taught that animals act merely on instinct. We thought ourselves far superior beings.

That was a load of rubbish, since disproved. In fact, we are the worst creature, the only one stupid enough to destroy it's own environment.

When we look into psychology, it soon becomes clear that we are motivated by self interest. That puts a whole new interpretation on the concept of kindness!

consciousness is what makes us human.

animals are able to be kind too.

possibly also a sense of humour

In addition to what has already been mentioned I’d add art . Some animals are creative but are there any which decorate their homes or bodies just for the appearance ?

Love, empathy, wisdom, kindness and inventiveness come to mind .Probably a lot more.

Misdventure ditto

We have the potential to change the world with kindness.
I'm not sure we'll ever reach that potential, though.

Still, we can have a go at changing our little part of it.

I think what I got from Kate Adies thoughts were that even though we as humans commit atrocities there is a potential in all humans to be kind and if we look around we will see the kindness of strangers everywhere. The what makes us human broadcast is not really about comparing us to animals it's just meant to be thought provoking and maybe change our behaviour. If you listen to it you may well interpret it differently though

I would be interested in a definition of "soul."

I was talking to vicar the other day as she is presiding at my OH's funeral on Wednesday. She defined god as the essence of goodness in the world, rather than a specific being. I resisted the temptation to ask how this essence could have a son to send, or was able to choose to answer prayers, or should be worshipped etc.

But essentially I agreed with her - there is a spirit of goodness present which we can choose to latch on to or not- I said I was happy to accept that and that I thought the most important thing was simply to be as kind as we can - nothing else really matters.

But I do think that animals can be kind - and not necessarily purely as a survival mechanism.

We human think we're superior to animals - is that what makes us human?
A feeling of superiority?

youtu.be/CQCOHUXmEZg

I love this.

Yes, dogs seem to have empathy threexnanny, in my experience. And sometimes a weird sixth sense.

It is reported that animals shed tears but not through emotion, more for lubrication.

Although there was a case of an elephant which apparently shed a tear when he was rescued. It could have been coincidence.
Certainly animals, notably elephants, mourn their dead.

Don’t elephants cry too ?

I think it’s something to do with the ability to overthink and not just accept . (Clumsily put I know)

Much as I agree with the sentiment I don't think it is exclusively human. All of our dogs and a few cats have noticed when one of the family is sad or unwell then made a fuss of the sufferer.

I don't think that empathy is totally exclusive to humans though.

we have a soul
If you are religious you may believe that. However, we don't know that for certain, neither do we know that animals don't have souls.

The ability to cry tears of emotion.

Nansnet?

Empathy ... the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.

Sadly, it's seriously lacking amongst some people. All too often, when someone is feeling down/upset/stressed about something, and they come here looking for a bit of advice/reassurance/support, there's always someone eager to make them feel worse than they already do, without a single thought as to what effect it will have on the person asking for advice.

What makes us human? We have a soul.

Callistemon ok thanks for that quick reply

However, it is a lot more complicated than that.

what's 1% of our DNA please

Would you like the long explanation or the short precis, May7?

The 1% of the DNA I refer to is the 1% that we do not share with chimpanzees and with bonobos, that is the difference which makes us human.

callistemon
Whats 1% of our DNA please

Otherwise we'd be chimps.