Are we human? What do you define as human? How do you define “human”? Regardless of the last days events, can we say that a specific member of the species Homo sapiens is more human than a certain member of another species?
In the trip to Tanzania I met many examples where I wondered whether we are really so different from animals (that is other than us). On one hand the Massai people habits that most likely resemble our ancestors, and on the other hand animal behavior and social life that resemble ours. So I am still puzzled… but after I saw across the following TED talk – I am certainly uncertain.
TED lectures are rated in a creative way – ranging from informative, through funny, inspiring, persuasive etc. This talk is rated jaw-dropping. After spending 17 minutes watching it, I can assure you that you will look at (other) animals differently.
So are WE Human? How do you define Human ?
Comments, guys ?
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Watching The Wheels 
אני מלמדת קורס שנקרא התנהגות האדם בראי התנהגות בעלי חיים וחלק גדול מהקורס מוקדש להפרכת כל מיני אמונות על “מותר האדם”. לפני שבוע-שבועיים החלטתי סופית שבשנה הבאה שם הקורס ישתנה ויהיה: “מותר האדם?” זה נראה לי יותר מתאים. השורה התחתונה של הקורס היא, כמובן, שבעיני אין בדיוק מותר האדם…
I’ve recently heard an interesting theory, which says that we are not special in our ability to LEARN, but rather in our drive to TEACH.
Monkeys in nature learn by watching their parents/tribe do what they usually do, but the parents do not actively teach them…
We, on the other hand, set a whole system (from language to schools) aimed at actively spreading our knowledge. This enables us to build on existing knowledge to advance further.
Uri,
I am not sure I agree. Although we are the only species with “School”, I guess that other species have “teaching” behavior. Daphna – can you give some examples?