648. Ayumu - The Distinction Between Animals And Humans
The evolution of humans and chimpanzees bifurcated about 6 million years ago. But this does not mean, that only humans have continued to evolve. Also chimpanzees have not remained the same species as 6 million years ago. The two species have evolved differently, some qualities and traits have evolved more rapidly in humans. The possibility cannot be excluded, that after many more millions of years the descendants of today's chimpanzees may also reach the intelligence of today's humans.
The evolution of humans and chimpanzees bifurcated about 6 million years ago. But this does not mean, that only humans have continued to evolve. Also chimpanzees have not remained the same species as 6 million years ago. The two species have evolved differently, some qualities and traits have evolved more rapidly in humans. The possibility cannot be excluded, that after many more millions of years the descendants of today's chimpanzees may also reach the intelligence of today's humans.
Therefore seeing the amazing accomplishments of a chimpanzee called Ayumu is amazing but comprehensible.
Ayumu does better than humans on a task requiring fast perception and short term memory, as can be seen in this video:
This and other cases of amazing problem solving skills by animals as for example ravens has caused some people to doubt, that there were no real and decisive distinction between humans and animals.
But there is one clear distinction. This distinction is the complete determination of all behavior by instincts only in animals, while humans have cognitive control over their behavior. It is the distinction between all needs and urges being instinctive in animals, while humans have intellectual and emotional needs, which can be stronger than instincts.
But there is one clear distinction. This distinction is the complete determination of all behavior by instincts only in animals, while humans have cognitive control over their behavior. It is the distinction between all needs and urges being instinctive in animals, while humans have intellectual and emotional needs, which can be stronger than instincts.
Animals are those beings, who are determined by instincts and whose intelligence and skills are restricted to only serve and enable the pursuit of satisfying the instinctive urges.
Humans have a conscious identity derived from predominantly cognitive needs, memory and anticipation allows them to be fully aware of the detrimental long-term consequences of whatever instinctive urges they do experience. Their intelligence enables them to use cognitive control over the instincts and to avoid damaging themselves by succumbing to temporary instinctive urges.
Human evolution is actually in a phase of transition. Some members of the species homo sapiens are still animals, who are determined by their instincts but have invented very elaborated tools and methods to serve these anachronistic and obsolete urges, causing extreme damage and suffering. Some have already evolved farther and are no more animals but cognitive beings in full control over their instincts.
Ayumu demonstrates his amazing abilities as a tool to get treats as a reward. It serves his instinct to eat. Only humans do pursue intellectual challenges of any kind for the emotional and intellectual joy of doing so, of feeling good by achievement.
Weapons are a good example.
As long as someone driven by the ingroup-outgroup instinct had nothing but a club as a weapon, he at least had to get close to the person considered as an enemy, before he could attack one at a time.
At the era of the club, there was a balance between the possible damage caused by the ingroup-outgroup instinct and the limited intelligence restricting the magnitude of the maximum damage. When the intelligence evolved, this augmented the damage done by instinct.
It needs high intelligence to produce mass destruction weapons as are the nuclear bombs. One person can press a button and kill millions. But doing so is still an act of succumbing to the ingroup-outgroup instinct of killing enemies and defending the own kind.
No matter if the club or the button, those who use weapons are animals determined by the instinct, which is served by the intelligence to create the weapons.
True humans are no longer determined by the obsolete ingroup-outgroup instinct. Instead they see all humans as individuals with equal rights, the only valid distinction being the one between decent people, who harm nobody, and the bad ones, who do and who need to be impeded to do so.
True humans are politicians, leaders and organizers, who use their intelligence to install and create fair treaties, agreements and compromises between countries or groups. They contribute to peace, justice and cooperation.
The second example is men's reaction to their experience of sexual dishomeostasis.
True humans are politicians, leaders and organizers, who use their intelligence to install and create fair treaties, agreements and compromises between countries or groups. They contribute to peace, justice and cooperation.
The second example is men's reaction to their experience of sexual dishomeostasis.
As animals, men are driven without hesitation to procure for themselves the access to the ruthless abuse of a female body. When the legal consequences make outright rape too risky, some men apply amazing amounts of intelligence to get access to female bodies without any awareness of being primitive animals. For those men, whose attempts of simple seduction by manipulation, trickery and lies are not successful, other men have used a lot of professional qualification to develop and sell instruments and methods for attempting abuse. Some have invented chemicals like artificial pheromones or knockout drops. Others have written elaborate manuals for aspiring PUAs (Pick Up ANIMALS). But no matter how clever the methods, everything serves male instincts to abuse women.
Truly human men are very different. They consider and experience sexual homeostasis as a mere collateral benefit of having a relationship for reasons based upon the appreciation of women as persons. By those men, who are predominantly cognitive beings, restoring sexual homeostasis is by itself not considered or justified as a sufficient reason to get involved.
The behavior of human men is determined by their cognitive need for a companion in a long-term bonded and monogamous relationship.
The behavior of human men is determined by their cognitive need for a companion in a long-term bonded and monogamous relationship.
