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Are animals humane, are humans animals?
Dec. 25th, 2024 12:58 pmAs a professional zoologist of course I've always had a scientific answer to that question.
Biologically speaking, we are nothing more than just another species of animals inhabiting Earth. We are not even the only species of the genus Homo (actually, a crossbreed between at least two species of that genus), but the only one remaining because the rest were either extinct or exterminated. We are a species with the biggest (relative to the rest of the body) and the most complex brain among animals, and to that, we have highly developed forelimbs adapted to perform complex work, and a vocal apparatus capable of making a wide range of sounds to successfully communicate the skills and other knowledge to each other.
We are also the only species who invented alphabet to communicate with each other in writing, the ability that enormously accelerated our mental, although not so much physical, evolution.
Our children, unlike those of other animals, are born with an incredible brain in which most instincts (apart of two or three in the early infancy) are virtually non-existent. That's one of the reasons why it takes so long for a human baby to grow into a fully independent individual. Animals don't have that luxury, not all but a large amount of their behavior is genetically predisposed, an animal baby being born with plenty predefined neural paths. That's why when we work, participate in leisure activities, choose a partner - it's very much not an instinct but a result of free and often unpredictable brain activity. Hormonal factors seem to play a great role in our mood, thus shaping our motivation to do (or not) anything, but that is much less strict than truly instinctive behavior.
Still...what do we mean when saying 'we have to be humane', 'humanism', 'humane actions'?
I grew up in a society where the general opinion was that the 'humane' qualities were empathy, kindness, tenderness, nobleness (clever, educated but still kind comportment), capability of self-sacrifice for others, forgiveness and mutual support.
Same people considered 'animals in general' and 'animalistic' all the opposite. Also adding to that examples of hyper-sexuality - which is not really an animal thing, since they are having hormonal pleasure from sex but eventually use it, not much for their own choice, for reproduction. And also very much for BONDING, forming amazing life-lasting couples.
As far as I'm concerned, modern humans are using sex as much to be free from any bonds as for everything else. And so many of them hate cuddles without sex - although animals can be quite the opposite.
Later, when I graduated and started working with actual animals, I was astonished by how often they demonstrate what we considered specifically humane. They can be aggressive but also extremely friendly and gentle - both to their species and the others (I wish racists would learn from them, they can't even stand other populations of their own species). Animals can be very much altruistic and self-sacrificing. The astonishing thing is that their self-sacrifice is born from emotions (and instincts and hormonal bonds, yes) but not from the IDEOLOGY produced by the rational mind.
What seems to be exclusively human (and not at all 'humane') is abusing their very large brain for inventing means of climbing to the top of the social food chain. Weaponry, state apparatus, bureaucracy, social statuses and of course, MONEY.
Humans are the only hoarders of these damn pieces of metal and paper on the planet. Many of them are following the urge of hoarding it as if it would be a true blind instinct and not a matter of choice. Because they don't want to make that choice, and being creatures with a gigantic brain, seem not to be using it for the right purposes.
A new trend is to collect not money but points - in computer games, in ratings etc etc. Same useless habit that was meant to demonstrate swift intellect but instead demonstrates nothing.
From that point of view, I prefer to be an animal. Having my emotions, tenderness, my bonds and quiet admiration of the beauty of the nature outside the human anthills.
Because without it a human is not a person but a BIOROBOT. An organic AI with the glitching software.
Biologically speaking, we are nothing more than just another species of animals inhabiting Earth. We are not even the only species of the genus Homo (actually, a crossbreed between at least two species of that genus), but the only one remaining because the rest were either extinct or exterminated. We are a species with the biggest (relative to the rest of the body) and the most complex brain among animals, and to that, we have highly developed forelimbs adapted to perform complex work, and a vocal apparatus capable of making a wide range of sounds to successfully communicate the skills and other knowledge to each other.
We are also the only species who invented alphabet to communicate with each other in writing, the ability that enormously accelerated our mental, although not so much physical, evolution.
Our children, unlike those of other animals, are born with an incredible brain in which most instincts (apart of two or three in the early infancy) are virtually non-existent. That's one of the reasons why it takes so long for a human baby to grow into a fully independent individual. Animals don't have that luxury, not all but a large amount of their behavior is genetically predisposed, an animal baby being born with plenty predefined neural paths. That's why when we work, participate in leisure activities, choose a partner - it's very much not an instinct but a result of free and often unpredictable brain activity. Hormonal factors seem to play a great role in our mood, thus shaping our motivation to do (or not) anything, but that is much less strict than truly instinctive behavior.
Still...what do we mean when saying 'we have to be humane', 'humanism', 'humane actions'?
I grew up in a society where the general opinion was that the 'humane' qualities were empathy, kindness, tenderness, nobleness (clever, educated but still kind comportment), capability of self-sacrifice for others, forgiveness and mutual support.
Same people considered 'animals in general' and 'animalistic' all the opposite. Also adding to that examples of hyper-sexuality - which is not really an animal thing, since they are having hormonal pleasure from sex but eventually use it, not much for their own choice, for reproduction. And also very much for BONDING, forming amazing life-lasting couples.
As far as I'm concerned, modern humans are using sex as much to be free from any bonds as for everything else. And so many of them hate cuddles without sex - although animals can be quite the opposite.
Later, when I graduated and started working with actual animals, I was astonished by how often they demonstrate what we considered specifically humane. They can be aggressive but also extremely friendly and gentle - both to their species and the others (I wish racists would learn from them, they can't even stand other populations of their own species). Animals can be very much altruistic and self-sacrificing. The astonishing thing is that their self-sacrifice is born from emotions (and instincts and hormonal bonds, yes) but not from the IDEOLOGY produced by the rational mind.
What seems to be exclusively human (and not at all 'humane') is abusing their very large brain for inventing means of climbing to the top of the social food chain. Weaponry, state apparatus, bureaucracy, social statuses and of course, MONEY.
Humans are the only hoarders of these damn pieces of metal and paper on the planet. Many of them are following the urge of hoarding it as if it would be a true blind instinct and not a matter of choice. Because they don't want to make that choice, and being creatures with a gigantic brain, seem not to be using it for the right purposes.
A new trend is to collect not money but points - in computer games, in ratings etc etc. Same useless habit that was meant to demonstrate swift intellect but instead demonstrates nothing.
From that point of view, I prefer to be an animal. Having my emotions, tenderness, my bonds and quiet admiration of the beauty of the nature outside the human anthills.
Because without it a human is not a person but a BIOROBOT. An organic AI with the glitching software.
