the question of alleged human "superiority"

I suppose it is, but then, humanity has not been around for that long, so I want to look at other aspects; general health, survival per 1000 live births, etc, in which case I'm sure human being come out on top.

 

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Precisely my point. All the other stuff is irrelevant.

 

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In every other point, though, it is relevant; humans thrive. Not only that, but we inhabit multiple habitats from the cold to the hot, and even space! We are the best species suited to survival.

 

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Cockroaches thrive too and they have been here longer.

 

Right, but there's key differences:

cockroaches only thrive in one habitat (hot and tropical); at least, they can't survive in the cold

cockroaches might thrive but they can't respond to shifts or changes in their environment the way humans can

cockroaches can't plan things out

Humans are the most adapted, and have the most potential because we can plan ahead and respond to dangers.

 

Cockroaches do not only thrive in hot and tropical habitats..!

Really ? They have a couple of hundred million years of survival that says otherwise. Unlike humans.

So what ?

Humans are the least adapted, we're just smart enough to compensate using our brains.

 

Hey, what about Horseshoe crabs ?
They have a fossil history going back unchanged over 400 million years.
The same genus and species of these 'living fossils' have existed since the Cambrian period; before there were even any terrestrial insects, or amphibians, let alone dinosaurs. These horseshoe crab species were in existence even before there were sea turtles, sharks or crocodiles, let alone the species of those groups that live today.

 

Ants? Bees? There are other examples.

commons (dot) wikimedia (dot) org/wiki/Category:Animal_art

There are a few books which contain sculptures and other art made by non-humans (dogs, horses, primates, etc.). I cannot think of the titles off the top of my head, but I will get back to you.

Birds? Actually, plenty of animals make music - think about it!

Plato writes, in The Republic:

Elsewhere, Socrates discusses the fact that the dog knows where the "just city" is and guards it by that knowledge.

Examples of and elaboration upon that which you've listed are discussed at length in any number of texts. I defer you to the writings of Vicki Hearne, for instance, or David Abram's The Spell of the Sensuous.

And what about cockroaches and rats?

edit: I see that cockroaches have already been addressed.

 

Point is, they can't survive in every environment the way humans can.

That just means they survived longer, not that they're better at survival

That's huge. That's probably one of the most important factors in survival; being able to plan things out means you can act to prevent or respond to danger before it happens.

That's part of our adaptation!

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So what ?

Like I said, get back to me in a few hundred million years.

Apparently, it isn't that important AT ALL.

Ok fine. And, SO WHAT ?

 

What do you mean, so what? Aren't we debating the alleged superiority of humans?

The only threat to us is ourselves.

Actually it's hugely important. Human beings probably wouldn't exist today if we couldn't plan things out and think ahead

That's important!

 

I've spent a cumulative of four of my 39 years living outside. Granted, for two of those years I lived inside of a vehicle (VW Westphalia), but still: I survived in a way that, sadly, most people seem wholly incapable of in the present day. Seriously, do you think that most humans (in industrialized societies, most especially) know a damn thing about "survival"?

 

All of which is part of the reason that the Earth's so freakin' polluted! So, ...the species that can pollute it's own home the greatest is the ...ahh, superior species?

Yep, and even the lowliest of creatures don't do that nearly as well as humans! So, ...the species that's a threat to it's own existence is ....ahh, the superior species?

Baron Max

 

Yes we are. And you equated the superiority of a species to its ability to survive.

Perhaps you should put a bit more thought into that.

So ? Humans may need it, but that doesn't mean that other species do. Humans are just so weak that they have to rely on their intelligence.

To us perhaps. So what ?

 

Yes.

We can respond to any natural disaster, assuming we are well co-ordinated; we can plan ahead in order to surve. However, it's human nature and human society that is the greatest threat.

And? We're weak physically but strength isn't just physical strength.

See above. Also in the future when we alter ourselves we can be both physically AND mentally superior

 

lol.. you have deluded yourself. But don't feel bad, most humans have.

 

How?

 

Fuck if I know. Arrogance, ignorance.. who knows.

 

I'm not arrogant. I know humans are fragile; I'm just saying we have the best potential for survival. But all it takes is one out of the blue disaster and we can be gone in a flash.

I don't think we're immortal, we're just best suited to survival.

 

How do you know !? Did you miss the horseshoe crab post ?