While all animals have distinct differences, it is obvious that human beings are distinctly different from other animals; and the two things that distinguish them most from other animals are the ability to choose, and a conscience.
Desert animals live in the desert; they just do. You won't find a camel living in the rain forest unless a human being puts it there. (and why would you do that?) Kangaroos live in Australia; flightless cormorants in the Galapagos. But we humans have the ability to choose where we live. We can be born in Arizona, decide to move to Sweden; and eventually settle down in New Zealand if we want to.
A carnivorous lion will never eat eucalyptus leaves for dinner; nor will a koala ever pass on the eucalyptus leaves to stalk an antelope. On the other hand, some humans choose to eat meat, and others do not. Some feel that their meal is incomplete without a big slab of meat on their plate. Others may choose to be vegetarians because they love animals; or they avoid meat for health reasons; or religious reasons; or because they just prefer vegetables. I know vegetarians who hate green vegetables, but live on potatoes, cereal, ramen noodles, and tofu doused in organic barbeque sauce, simply because they think being a vegetarian is cooler than being a meat eater.
The ability to choose doesn't end with where we live or what we eat. We are the only animals that choose to wear clothing. (Well, I have seen dogs in sweaters, but I don't think they picked them out) And not only do we choose to wear clothing for warmth, and the sake of modesty, we use our clothes to express our personal style. I mean, if we were just dressing to cover our nakedness, we would all be wearing sack dresses and loincloths, right?
But the major difference between human beings and other animals? Humans have a conscience; the ability to distinguish right from wrong. the capacity to feel guilt and remorse. Our conscience informs our moral judgement, based on thinking and reasoning. We can choose to live a moral life; or not. We can choose to adhere to the laws created by society; or not. We can choose to worship a divine power; or not. We choose, because we can. But what motivates our choices?
This is part one of a two part post. Read part two tomorrow - I Wanna Be A Cowboy.
Desert animals live in the desert; they just do. You won't find a camel living in the rain forest unless a human being puts it there. (and why would you do that?) Kangaroos live in Australia; flightless cormorants in the Galapagos. But we humans have the ability to choose where we live. We can be born in Arizona, decide to move to Sweden; and eventually settle down in New Zealand if we want to.
A carnivorous lion will never eat eucalyptus leaves for dinner; nor will a koala ever pass on the eucalyptus leaves to stalk an antelope. On the other hand, some humans choose to eat meat, and others do not. Some feel that their meal is incomplete without a big slab of meat on their plate. Others may choose to be vegetarians because they love animals; or they avoid meat for health reasons; or religious reasons; or because they just prefer vegetables. I know vegetarians who hate green vegetables, but live on potatoes, cereal, ramen noodles, and tofu doused in organic barbeque sauce, simply because they think being a vegetarian is cooler than being a meat eater.
The ability to choose doesn't end with where we live or what we eat. We are the only animals that choose to wear clothing. (Well, I have seen dogs in sweaters, but I don't think they picked them out) And not only do we choose to wear clothing for warmth, and the sake of modesty, we use our clothes to express our personal style. I mean, if we were just dressing to cover our nakedness, we would all be wearing sack dresses and loincloths, right?
But the major difference between human beings and other animals? Humans have a conscience; the ability to distinguish right from wrong. the capacity to feel guilt and remorse. Our conscience informs our moral judgement, based on thinking and reasoning. We can choose to live a moral life; or not. We can choose to adhere to the laws created by society; or not. We can choose to worship a divine power; or not. We choose, because we can. But what motivates our choices?
This is part one of a two part post. Read part two tomorrow - I Wanna Be A Cowboy.
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