[binoct]

I don’t take issue with the point of your last sentence, but rather the framing that “animal” is somehow a negative thing. Humans are animals, there’s no separate animal nature. We are animals, full stop. The scientific method is a skill we have developed to be more objective about complicated phenomena. Depth of knowledge and education certainly help an individual reason more carefully about cause and effect in various domains, but scientists and other highly educated people share the same set of biological behaviors as everyone else.

[WalterBright]

What separates men from animals is men have honor.

[Cthulhu_]

I'd nuance that argument a bit; we know of the concept of honor and can distinguish between "honorable" and "dishonorable" behaviour, and / or the definition thereof depending on culture, whereas animals only have instinct. But then again, smarter animals do know right from wrong, or honor, if you will.

But this is a philosophical subject, which I'm not educated in.

[bregma]

Some men have honor. FTFY

[WalterBright]

Those without honor are intelligent animals, but not men.

Each of us makes that choice for ourselves.