Being Human

8/31/2023

Take a quick look at this article for a scientific approach to some of the traits that separate humans from other animals, and then respond to the following questions.

What are some physical/biological characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals? Do you think there are any other distinctions not covered in the article? How would you define what it means to be human?

39 Comments

Autumn

8/31/2023 09:25:30 am

One of the biggest ways humans are different from most animals are our physical appearence. Humans walk on two legs, don't have a tail, wear clothes, we have thumbs, and even our facial expressions differenciate us from other animals. Some biological characteristics are speech, we are really intelligent, and we have a very long lifespan compared to most animals. Something that wasn't reallt talked about in the article is the way we show our emotions and how our brains feel about certain things. To be human is to be superior to all.

Abby

8/31/2023 09:55:28 am

Our thumbs play a big part in our life and make it a lot easier to do things. I never thought of how different our facial expressions are compared to animals.

Lisa Mualem

8/31/2023 09:57:52 am

I didn't think about facial expressions, that's a really good difference.

Alyssa

8/31/2023 09:58:11 am

I like how you state some of the physical appearance differerences. And I agree with that the article didn't really state our emotions.

Abby

8/31/2023 09:27:02 am

Some things that distinguish humans from other animals is the way humans act compared to animals. Our brains are set apart from animals and contain parts that allow us to think, speak and understand a lot better than animals. Human emotions play a big part in this difference between animals and humans, because humans have so many emotions it allows us to understand each other easier and express ourselves in different ways, making humans unique.

Sydnee Cluff

8/31/2023 09:42:08 am

I agree with you that one of the big differences between humans and animals are the parts of our brains that allow us to process our thoughts!

Brianna Anderson

8/31/2023 09:52:10 am

Yes, emotions are a major part in a humans life.

Hudson Bertram

8/31/2023 10:04:42 am

I agree with you, but I still think that many animals still have the ability to think with relative complexity.

Julian Logan

8/31/2023 09:28:55 am

Humans are in a completely different league than other animals. I met a man once who says that dogs are the smartest animals on the planet. While I don't doubt that dogs can be smart, I don't think that they are smarter than us; that goes for any animal. You don't see dogs inventing new ways of space travel, piloting a plane, or even running a debate team. These are all things that humans invented, and are possibly the only species in the modern world to be able to accomplish said things. The definition of what it means to be human is going to change over time, and even more so from person to person. I believe being human is the ability for each and every one of us to live our own separate lives. To be able to do something just for the fun of it. You don't see raccoons jumping out of airplanes 3000 feet in the air just to say that they did so.

Alyssa

8/31/2023 09:53:15 am

I like how you say that humans are in a completely different league than animals and I agree with you.

Lucile

8/31/2023 09:53:25 am

Good job on adding the thing on space, it's important to remember that animals cannot go to space without humans forcing them to go for the sake of someone saying "my dog was the first German Shepard in space".

Hudson Bertram

8/31/2023 09:59:37 am

While I do agree with fact of LOVING the experience. I don't think every human do things just to do them. I feel if people like adrenaline for example they'll defiantly do thing that involve adrenaline for the heck of it.

Lucile

8/31/2023 09:33:30 am

The main differences in the article between humans and animals were life after children, control of fire, and long childhoods. While the article seemed to get the big picture of the difference between humans and animals, I'd argue that they missed one big difference. We as humans have created tools of war that are made for bloodshed and murder such as guns and nukes. The only "tool of war" that animals possess is their own bodies. Humans have always created tools to give them an advantage in battles (swords, catapults, use of fire, bows, traps, etc.) while animals have only solely relied on themselves and each other to win their battles.
To me, being human means to have an advantage over every other species there is on this planet. It means that we have intelligence to destroy and put any other species to extinction if we so wanted to. The only threat we see that may bring us to our demise is AI which we as humans have created ourselves. With all the destruction humans make however, humans hold a responsibly to maintain a healthy earth (something we are not good at) while animals don't seem to hold the same responsibility.

Lilly Cerise

8/31/2023 09:44:11 am

The tool of war point was something I didn't really think about, that was really good!

Autumn

8/31/2023 09:51:54 am

I love that you included the concept of tool making and war and how animals can't make the proper tools to fight.

Julian Logan

8/31/2023 09:57:22 am

I do agree that humans have a responsibility to maintain Earth's health, but other animals may do so as a part of their life cycle. Take bees for instance. Without bees, the world would be a desolate waste land.

Miles

8/31/2023 10:04:44 am

I agree that we use tools to fight against each other, but we also use tools to collaborate and make the world a better place. It is really sad that people want to compete with each other and thus, kill each other, I guess this is instinctual though. I am sure that if other animals had the tools and the capabilities, they would do the same thing though.

Alyssa

8/31/2023 09:35:54 am

Some biological characteristics that make humans unique from animals is posture and speech, as stated in Livescience. I think that there is a lot more distinctions not covered in the article. Although we are similar to some animals we have adapted in a lot of ways and kept on learning new things that other animals cannot do. I would define being human means to be unique in your own way and that we are all different in the end. That we can develop numerous traits later in life with all the advancemetns in this day of age.

Abby

8/31/2023 09:50:00 am

I agree, humans can develop numerous traits throughout the years and i do agree humans are very very unique in their own ways.

Mykala

8/31/2023 09:56:54 am

I agree that one of our biggest qualities is being able to adapt in a greater aspect than that of other beings.

Mykala

8/31/2023 09:36:16 am

In LiveScience they state that some characteristics that separate humans from animals are our anatomy, abilities, emotions, and our brain intellect. I believe that another characteristic that humans possess would be our exceptional ability to adapt and grow due to our superior intellect. Such being the advancements in technology that help us grow as a society today. I would define being a human as having the ability to make mistakes and creating a solution using our intelligence to create a better outcome.

Brianna Anderson

8/31/2023 09:54:58 am

I like how you suggest technology. That is a great example!

Sydnee Cluff link

8/31/2023 09:37:41 am

A few characteristics that separate humans from animals are clothing, speech, our lives as humans after reproducing, and our brains. I believe that another big characteristic that separtaes humans and animals are our emotions. Humans have different ways of expressing their emotions depending on the situation. For example, if a human is sad they most likely will cry but, as a human we don't see animals cry when they are sad. In my opinion to be human is to be known as a person or as people. As people we have a brain that consumes parts of our bodies energy to help the rest of our body function properly. Another part of being human is having our brains help make our decisions.

Lilly Cerise

8/31/2023 09:47:33 am

You are totally right, I have never seen a dog cry!

Sara Chaffin

8/31/2023 09:48:18 am

I like how you stated that humans cry. It shows that human emotions are expressed differntly to animals emotions.

Hudson Bertram

8/31/2023 09:39:10 am

Humans are unique from animals in a couple specific different facets. First of all Humans have very complex brains, even though we don't have the largest are is more efficient. Our development focuses on mainly improving it and spends a significant amount of energy just developing are brain. With a combination of humans having larger cortical association areas and anatomy of our vocal tracks we can communicate very effectively. Humans also have evolved to handle tools with having longer opposable thumbs, our hips evolved to stand straight up and being able to carry even things by our side. Humans ability to sweat and have little hair gives a massive advantage in long distance running. Being human means to Feel. Feel everything around you. In other words experience different facets in life. Struggle and eventually passing hardship is when humans feel most alive.

Julian Logan

8/31/2023 09:54:04 am

Humans are not the only species to use tools, however. There are studies showing that chimps have used heavy sticks to bash in the skulls of crocodiles.

Brianna Anderson

8/31/2023 09:39:31 am

Humans and other animals has many differences that are distinguished from the other like the article states. The article suggests adaptation, anatomy, childhood, brains, hands/sweat, reproducing, and blushing are all things that suggest differences. The article didn't quite mention critical reasoning and problem solving or the emotions that humans contain, but I think they covered it all pretty well. To be a human means thinking critically, being a part of a culture, adapting, using emotions to help make decisions and, having your own self-image

Autumn

8/31/2023 09:49:09 am

I like that you included critical thinking and decision making, I didn't think of that!

Lucile

8/31/2023 09:56:37 am

I love how you added self image, we was humans tend to be the only species who regularly get down on ourselves and get depressive tendencies often.

Lilly Cerise

8/31/2023 09:41:11 am

One main thing that separates humans from other animals is the human brain versus other animals' brains. The main differences between us humans and some of our closest relatives, the apes, is the decision-making part of the brain. That special part is called the cerebral cortex, and it is a huge part of what has made the human race get to where we are in the world. One other big difference that sets humans apart from animals is speech. Again, the main factor in our speech is our brains being able to control it. I think that the article from livescience.com covered everything that separates humans from other species. A human is an animal who can think higher than basic survival skills, like fight or flight, due to having an overdeveloped frontal cortex. A human is an animal who is creative, emotional, smart, and kind.

Sydnee Cluff

8/31/2023 09:48:34 am

I like how you said that being a human is being able to think at a higher level then animals!

Sara Chaffin

8/31/2023 09:54:26 am

I like how you defined what humans are.

Mykala

8/31/2023 09:55:16 am

I agree that human intelligence plays a big part in how we are superior to other beings due to how our brains function.

Lisa Mualem

8/31/2023 09:43:57 am

One of the biological characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals is the fact that we have extraordinary brains. Our brains allow us to make choices and actions far beyond the other animal's capability. Having such an incredible brain may be the cause of having such a long childhood. With so many cortical neutrons our brains take longer to mature which may be why we rely on our parents for a while when other animals are on their own fairly quickly. I think most characteristics were covered in the article. Being human means we are constantly adapting. We are changing the way we do things to better fit our needs and the environment. There are many studies and inventions going on to help us adapt. Though animals can adapt to their enviroment they are not constantly changing.

Sara Chaffin

8/31/2023 09:45:23 am

The physical and biological characteristics that makes humans stand out from other animals consist of our brain, how we walk, and hair. Our brain allows us to think more out of the box then other animals. Humans walk on two leg, so that their hands are free to do things. This gives humans a harder proscess for child birth then other animals. Human's have hair but much thinner and lighter. Having this characteristic helps keep humans cool when hot. Clothing is another thing that humas use that willing animals don't. Clothes for human is like hair or fur for an animal. Most animals procreate till they die, but humans don't do that at all. Humans take care of their parents and kids more then other animals. The article didn't talk about human eating habits compared to animals. Humans have a larger food chain then most animals. They also have unhealthy eating habits. Humans have storys to entertain them. Thats just a few differences between humans and animals. What does human mean? I believe that being human means to be made in the image of God.

Lisa Mualem

8/31/2023 09:52:52 am

The food chain and eating habits is a really good point. I did not think about it!

Sienna Crispin

8/31/2023 09:47:25 am

Humans have larger cortical association areas which allow us to speak and make more sounds than other primates. When humans were created our pelvis was rotated to help us walk on two legs. Because of this childbirth is much more dangerous. There were changes also made to our spine. Humans have a lumbar curve to help maintain balance as we stand and walk. Humans also have very thin hair on our bodies to prevent us from overheating unlike chimpanzees. Clothing is another factor that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. We are the only ones that wear clothing although sometimes we like to dress our pets. The human brain is very developed compared to some animals. Our brains help us with decision-making and control. Our thumbs also separate us from other animals. Although some animals do have thumbs, the human thumb is longer allowing us to touch our ring and pinky fingers. Humans are the only creatures that can blush and control fire. Unlike other primates humans stay in the care of their parents much longer. After reproduction, humans continue to live instead of dying.

Miles Palmer

8/31/2023 09:57:30 am

There are quite a few differences between us (humans) and other animals, some differences include a larger frontal cortex of the brain, the way we walk on two legs, the unique feature of blushing, our clothing, the ability to make many sounds, and our opposable thumbs, which contrary to popular belief, many other animals have them, just not as long. I do not think that the article left out anything, at least nothing that I know. I think that people should take into account that humans are the most advanced civilization and people should be grateful that they are where they are, because life would be a lot more primitive without the skills and technologies that we have today, I mean, even 1000 years ago, the situation is better than the alternative life. We as a species have come very far because of literature too; it is the best way to convey and store past experiences and knowledge. Literature is also used for entertainment since this species has a big brain and sometimes we need a break, that's why people make fantasy books, music, and many other ways of distracting ourselves. That's what I think, at least.

Being Human

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