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0 pointsknowaveragejoe10y ago0 comments

There are numerous ways in which we're similar to apes and other organisms, and then there's also numerous things that have nothing even close in the animal kingdom(that we're aware of, anyways). So if nothing but a larger language center explains that, then it's a far bigger difference than you make it sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCVu25wQ5s

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Retra10y ago· 1 in thread

If you're looking to say humans are categorically different from every other animal -- that is, that we have something none of them do -- then you're operating with such a level of granularity that it's necessary that you overlook small differentiating factors. The issue is not "why are humans unique, just like every species is unique" but "why are humans unique in a way no other species is?"

And if you take a human and ignore their facility for language, you will essentially have a regular ape. If you take away our capacity for culture and technology, you don't have an animal that rules the world uncontested. Whatever other differences we have are moot in comparison. (Take Stephen Hawking as an example.)

knowaveragejoeOP10y ago

I suggest you watch the talk either way. It's well-paced, witty and above all extremely fascinating. It centers around both the things that we previously thought were unique to humanity(but discoveries have shown we're not), as well as the ways in which we are unique("why are humans unique in a way no other species is?").

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