@The Pentacle Queen,
I have not read all replies, so I dont know if this aspect has been already brought up, but I will bring it up anyways. I suppose you do not expect the obvious answer, which is our brain's ability to resolve problems and create technology, etc.. I would say it is the ability to survive the universe. For example, a plant spore, conceiled in a crevice, in a rock, might outlive all creatures on earth (or on other planets if they exist) but it has no brains. Likewise plants have evolved systems that are very difficult to explain by chance or natural selection . There must be somekind of intelligence operating. In this perspective, to say that man has superior intellect to animals or plants, is not applicable, since man, through error , abuse of power and stupidity could someday extinguish himself and most of the animal and/or plant kingdom.
