So, what youre saying is that our human complexity and consciousness is a bi-product of chance? A side effect as you so eloquently put it? So as we spiral through space at thousands of miles per hour, a race of mammals accidentally stumbled on technology which would allow them to ascertain certain food groups that would allow or nurture brain development to occur, and as a side-effect of such brain growth, emotions and human consciousness is born? And the purpose of that would be? And it seems that purpose seems to be a key element here would you agree?
Originally posted by Curveball
I hope you all aren't talking bad about God.
Sorry if that came out offensive, I actually found it quite funny. I know...it must be getting late.
Perhaps people are still thinking.
Yes, you are more special than one who has a mental disability. You are, at least I hope you are, a greater asset to society (I almost said "capitalist") than a mentally retarded person. That makes you more "special," or at least it raises your status, or, more aptly put, gives you the ability to raise your status, and thereby benifiting the world community. In effect, Humans are only more "advanced" because of their highly social nature, which, over hundreds of thousands of years, led to "true" civilization. While the definition of "true civilization" will be ever changing to match the current society, Humans will always believe that they are the most important thing in the universe. Even the church, at least the Catholic Church, stresses, or did stress, the imporrtance of humans in the world. Remember, Galileo was charged with heresy when he contested that the Earth revolved around the sun, and not the other way around. The church saw this as a threat to human supremacy in God's Universe (or world, in this particular case) and did their best to quell the spread of this obviously false information. Furthermore, (I know, I'm dragging on...) humanity will never let another species of this planet surpass its perfection, at least by their standards, which are obviously biased toward the familiar, "human" anatomy. The human race, perhaps not as a whole, but as a majority, would find a way to destroy that other race before we accepted the fact that there was an entire race of beings superior to them. On a final note, you cannot honestly believe that you are not superior to a dog (which is a fantastic example Pako). That's just nonsense.
When the soveriegnty of the hujman race is at stake, a select few will not be able to halt the masses from doing what they believe is "right." Hell, most of the churches will probably figure out some way to blame the new animal on Satan, and demand for its extermination.
You didn't capitalize "him!" I call blasphemy! Time for an excommunication!
Originally posted by Pako
Wow, all of those good, thought provoking posts and not one comment.
As far as animals having emotions, I would also have to agree that my dogs have emotions. They can be angry, exhibit joy and frolic, can show affection and loyalty. With all these things considered, their emotional ability is much, much less then that of human emotions. They are far simpler whereas human emotions can get so complex and multi-layered. As a result, I doubt, nor do I entertain that a dogs emotions are comparative to that of a humans emotion.
