| At the risk of engaging in a futile argument, I feel like I have to interject. > Apes have more in common with mice than they do with humans No, apes are social, tribal creatures that inter-communicate vocally and via body language. They use tools and manipulate their environment to make their quality of life better. They have territory and fight to the death to protect that territory. If you were to ask me what species this describes, the first thing that would pop into my head is "human." If I were to say to someone "You're ugly and your mother's a whore" most people would have a sudden increase in adrenaline, followed by a wave of uncontrollable anger. Many times, this anger would drive us to do something like lash out physically or verbally. The emotions and feelings we experience throughout the day control us and shape our experience, just like they do an ape or a dog. Our difference from other mammals is really only defined by our ego, or our very basic awareness of self. Our awareness of self is rudimentary at best, yet our egos over-inflate it's abilities and importance. We've created the environment around us as does a rabbit burrows into the ground. While the materials we fabricate and build with are unique, all we are doing is constructing shelters to feel safe. Your example of nuclear bombs and having them for logical reasons is, in my opinion, incorrect. Our logical reasons for having weapons that could wipe out all of humanity can be reduced to little more than an alpha ape beating its chest at another. Rationalize it however you want. Most of our behavior, even on the macro level, is controlled by our inherently tribal instinct. We have not transcended our animal nature, not in the slightest. We've only fooled ourselves into thinking we have. Language, technology, government; take these away and you've got apes. Even then, language and government are not unique to humans. |