What Is Man?

[Gilbert_Keith]

What most separates the human from the subhuman? The stock catechism answer is that to be human is to have an immortal soul. But if evolution did happen, what qualities were infused by God into that soul that made it most distinct from the “souls” that animate lower animals?

 

[HailMary]

animals have natural souls that cease to exist when they die; we have immortal ones. We were also made in the image and likeness of God, unlike animals. God did not give the animals a share in His spirit (the breath of life).

 

[St.Sebastian]

Self awareness that we are mortal and will one day die. If the theory of evolution turns out to be proven in some form some day, I would suggest that the first “man” with those qualities was Adam. Animals feel emotions: pain, fear, happiness,etc. but they do not have a sense of their own mortality.

 

[kleary]

What most separates the human from the subhuman? The stock catechism answer is that to be human is to have an immortal soul. But if evolution did happen, what qualities were infused by God into that soul that made it most distinct from the “souls” that animate lower animals?

Well… the answer is that the human being did not evolve from a sub-human form- like - “No Virginia, we did not evolve from monkeys.”

What makes us distinct from animals should be the question? If that is the question it is easy to answer.

Man builds temples. Do you see apes and other creatures building temples?

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. Animals were not.

Ken

 

[Loginus]

What makes Man different?

“Man is self-aware!”- so are chimps, dolphins and elephants
“Man can use tools!”- aside the species above, so can birds and monkies
“Man can build civilizations!” - so can ants, bees and termites and they are very efficient and not as destructive to the environment

So what makes man different?- He’s much more arrogant

 

[mercygate]

What makes Man different?

“Man is self-aware!”- so are chimps, dolphins and elephants
“Man can use tools!”- aside the species above, so can birds and monkies
“Man can build civilizations!” - so can ants, bees and termites and they are very efficient and not as destructive to the environment

So what makes man different?- He’s much more arrogant

Man is the animal who cooks!

. . . and according to the Athanasian Symbol: “of a reasonable soul and human flesh consisting.”

I wonder if our definition of man may now include DNA?

Ants and termites do not build “civilizations” – they build colonies and they do so entirely by instinct and not by will and intellect.

 

[Loginus]

Man is the animal who cooks!

. . . and according to the Athanasian Symbol: “of a reasonable soul and human flesh consisting.”

I wonder if our definition of man may now include DNA?

Ants and termites do not build “civilizations” – they build colonies and they do so entirely by instinct and not by will and intellect.

youtube.com/watch?v=cvgrN6LJWmk&mode=related&search=

Hmm doesnt seem very evolved to me

 

[Fidelis]

“Man is self-aware!”- so are chimps, dolphins and elephants

It is highly arguable and unprovable that they have true self-awareness, at least to any level even approaching humans. We have no indication at all that any animals other than humans engage in “navel gazing,” for example. (“Who am I? Where did I come from? How do I fit into the cosmos?”)

“Man can use tools!”- aside the species above, so can birds and monkies

They can use sticks to probe termite holes, which they have learned by imitation, and built nests by instinct. It can barely be dignified in equating it with the development and use of tools.

“Man can build civilizations!” - so can ants, bees and termites and they are very efficient and not as destructive to the environment

As was pointed out, it is only done by instinct, not intelligence. And, again, you can hardly call it “civilisation” – more accurately, it is mindless, cyclical, instinctive activity.

So what makes man different?- He’s much more arrogant

I agree, since without true self-awareness, animals are incapable of arrogance. Plus, man also has the capacity to anthropomorphize dumb animals and attribute to them Disney-ish humanlike characteristics. Maybe we all watch too many cartoons!

 

[steveandersen]

Well… the answer is that the human being did not evolve from a sub-human form- like - “No Virginia, we did not evolve from monkeys.”

Please!

Let’s not start this again.

What makes us distinct from animals should be the question? If that is the question it is easy to answer.

Man builds temples. Do you see apes and other creatures building temples?

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. Animals were not.

Ken

Well we have both a physical and a spiritual nature so animals we are …in part.

But your point about temples is interesting.

We know that something happened to humans during the Upper Paleolithic; the final developments of language, some technological breakthroughs, development of art & aesthetics, and yes evidence of the emergence of religion occurred at this time. It is also when we emerged as physically modern.

This also corresponds to a period when humans weren’t separated by geologic barriers that would correspond to common decent.

So something significant went on. I don’t find it too far fetched to think that the critical point in our evolution when God reached out and finished his work happened then.

 

[Loginus]

It is highly arguable and unprovable that they have true self-awareness, at least to any level even approaching humans. We have no indication at all that any animals other than humans engage in “navel gazing,” for example. (“Who am I? Where did I come from? How do I fit into the cosmos?”)
They can use sticks to probe termite holes, which they have learned by imitation, and built nests by instinct. It can barely be dignified in equating it with the development and use of tools.
As was pointed out, it is only done by instinct, not intelligence. And, again, you can hardly call it "civilisation – more accurately, it is mindless, cyclical, instinctive activity.I agree, since without true self-awareness, animals are incapable of arrogance. Plus, man also has the capacity to anthropomorphize dumb animals and attribute to them Disney-ish humanlike characteristics. Maybe we all watch too many cartoons!

Aside that man went through all the stages listed above and it can be argued everythine that makes us special is instincts. ie living in groups, using tools, morality an adaptation of survival instinct etc.

Besides watch my link. Any creature that is so self obssessed to the point he willfully destroys himself to prove a point about how great he is isn’t evovled. It is just plain stupid

 

[Fidelis]

Aside that man went through all the stages listed above and it can be argued every thing that makes us special is instincts. ie living in groups, using tools, morality an adaptation of survival instinct etc.

Nope, sorry. Instinctive actions are those which take no thought or reasoning to do or to occur to us. Human activities that involve complex reasoning processes (chemistry, architecture, preparing a gourmet meal) or that arise from abstract concepts of good/evil or beauty (art, music, literature) can in no way be considered instinct, except in the sense that God has placed it into us the drive to pursue these things. In all of these, the animals are lacking.

 

[Loginus]

Nope, sorry. Instinctive actions are those which take no thought or reasoning to do or to occur to us. Human activities that involve complex reasoning processes (chemistry, architecture, preparing a gourmet meal) or that arise from abstract concepts of good/evil or beauty (art, music, literature) can in no way be considered instinct, except in the sense that God has placed it into us the drive to pursue these things. In all of these, the animals are lacking.

Nope, what I mentioned is instinct, what you’re mentioning I do agree does take higher thought. But again, look at my link
Any creature that believes itself God while destroying everything around 'em is inferior, not superior

 

[I_Leatherman]

Is there a logic argument that every living thing, plant or animal, has **Its Own **soul?. For instance could I exchange your soul with the soul of an apple tree? Could you still function as a human being.
Is a human soul distinct in itself - apart from being immortal?
‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; …’
Can the apple tree’s soul do that, exactly as you could?
So, is any living thing really fit to contain the human soul…and why are there humans if not to contain a human soul. How could an animal receive a human soul without being, itself, completely annihilated as an animal, and completely Created anew as a human being.
And how is the creation of Adam from the dust of the earth more difficult to believe in than the creation of Adam from the dust of an animal.

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

loginus

Any creature that believes itself God while destroying everything around 'em is inferior, not superior

Well let’s see, you might be referring to somebody you know, as opposed to Man per se?

Or are you speaking of fallen Man, which is a very Judeo-Christian doctrine and is found in other major religions as well?

Apparently our fellow creatures never fell, but we did since we are not only a threat to ourselves but to the entire planet.

To me this is the fundamental difference between our soul and the rest of creation … we alone are aware of our mortality and our immortality, our potential and our failure, our God and our various demons (those anyway who can even rise to that level of self awareness).

Do any other animals ever debate whether they will live on after they die?

 

[The_Augustinian]

Nope, what I mentioned is instinct, what you’re mentioning I do agree does take higher thought. But again, look at my link
Any creature that believes itself God while destroying everything around 'em is inferior, not superior

First of all, I can’t take anyone who claims his religion as Nihilism in his profile very seriously.

Secondly, man is radically different from other animals, something which is pretty self-evident; we’re only working out the details here. The fact that a man can make himself worse than a beast shows what a strange creature he is.

 

[Loginus]

loginus

Any creature that believes itself God while destroying everything around 'em is inferior, not superior

Well let’s see, you might be referring to somebody you know, as opposed to Man per se?

Or are you speaking of fallen Man, which is a very Judeo-Christian doctrine and is found in other major religions as well?

Apparently our fellow creatures never fell, but we did since we are not only a threat to ourselves but to the entire planet.

To me this is the fundamental difference between our soul and the rest of creation … we alone are aware of our mortality and our immortality, our potential and our failure, our God and our various demons (those anyway who can even rise to that level of self awareness).

Do any other animals ever debate whether they will live on after they die?

Well said and I agree. My claim is similar, man is special, but not in a good way. I think those things you mentioned are bad

As to the person bashing Nihilism, I dont see how its inferior to any other theology

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

loginus

Well said and I agree. My claim is similar, man is special, but not in a good way. I think those things you mentioned are bad.

But I’m sure you think man is capable of great good as well as great evil. Or are you a nihilist clean through? Do you despise the human race on principle as inferior to all other life forms?

Exactly what is your definition if Nihilism? Be careful now. Hitler is commonly referred to as a Nihilist.

 

[davidv]

As to the person bashing Nihilism, I dont see how its inferior to any other theology

Based on various dictionaries I consulted, Nihilism and theology are mutually exclusion. Total disregard for authority is incompatible with God.

 

[Loginus]

loginus

Well said and I agree. My claim is similar, man is special, but not in a good way. I think those things you mentioned are bad.

But I’m sure you think man is capable of great good as well as great evil. Or are you a nihilist clean through? Do you despise the human race on principle as inferior to all other life forms?

Exactly what is your definition if Nihilism? Be careful now. Hitler is commonly referred to as a Nihilist.

O I think mankind is capable of great things, but we are too caught up in our ‘divinity’ which is why we try to conquer everything; faiths, societies, each other, the environment etc.

As for Nihilism, equating it to Hitler is silly as Hitler can also be considered a Christian (persecuting jews for the death of Jews). More than anything, calling something ‘nihilist’ is usually mean to de-mean but thats silly. Nihilism is basically the rejection of absolutes and universals when it pertains to such things as good,evil,moral, justice etc. An interesting fact is that Zen Buddhism is also considerd nihilist.

 

[Loginus]

"Nihilism is a philosophical position, often associated with Friedrich Nietzsche (though he considered it something to be overcome), which argues that the world, and especially past and current human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. Nihilists generally assert some or all of the following: there is no reasonable proof of the existence of a higher ruler or creator, a “true morality” is unknown, and secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has no truth, and no action is known to be preferable to any other.[1]

Nihilism is often more a charge leveled against a particular idea, movement, or group, than it is an actual philosophical position to which someone overtly subscribes. Movements such as Dadaism as well as Futurism[2] and deconstructionism,[3] among others, have been described by commentators as “nihilist” at various times in various contexts. Often this means or is meant to imply that the beliefs of the accuser are more substantial or truthful, whereas the beliefs of the accused are nihilistic, and thereby comparatively amount to nothing." Taken from wiki. My beliefs fall in the first paragraph. As you can see if the world ‘nihlilist’ is used w/o a sentence it can allude to alot of meanings.

Back on topic, yaa, current humans grr evil! I suggest reading the book Ishmael. It has an interesting interpretation on what Gensis is really abut and an excellent story