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Are we special?

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tessxyz
 
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 03:28 pm
If 98% of our genetical code is similar to one of a chimpanzee - it must mean that only 2% of our genes are responsible for our consciousness and soul.
Strange how God spent so little time on us?

Or maybe, we are not that special after all?
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 790 • Replies: 17
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Bella Dea
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 03:30 pm
Haven't you ever heard the phrase "quality, not quantity"?

Just because something is small does not make it insignificant.
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tessxyz
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 03:41 pm
Well, so do you think this 2% of our DNA holds the secret of mind?
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Bella Dea
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 03:58 pm
tessxyz wrote:
Well, so do you think this 2% of our DNA holds the secret of mind?


Could be. Who knows?

But neither do chimps so that doesn't make them any more special than we.
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Chai
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 04:07 pm
Bella Dea wrote:
tessxyz wrote:
Well, so do you think this 2% of our DNA holds the secret of mind?


Could be. Who knows?

But neither do chimps so that doesn't make them any more special than we.



snort... Laughing
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ebrown p
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 04:53 pm
Re: Are we special?
tessxyz wrote:
If 98% of our genetical code is similar to one of a chimpanzee - it must mean that only 2% of our genes are responsible for our consciousness and soul.
Strange how God spent so little time on us?

Or maybe, we are not that special after all?


You are making the assumption that chimpanzees don't have consciousness or souls.

I am not so sure they don't on either count.
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tessxyz
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 05:09 pm
Quote:
You are making the assumption that chimpanzees don't have consciousness or souls



Good point. Just for a moment let's take a religion stand. Majority of the religions claim - animals don't have one.




And if they do............majority of religions, philosophy etc will go down a drain. Twisted Evil
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ebrown p
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 05:15 pm
This also makes the assumption that humans DO have a soul.

I don't really know what a soul is... I mean, how would I be able to tell if I had one?

Or is this also a religious assumption?
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tessxyz
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 05:36 pm
Quote:
This also makes the assumption that humans DO have a soul.


Not at all. We humans are so proud of our emotions, ethics, consciousness, uniqueness.
I am just fishing for somebody to try to convince me that we are special.


If not , to tell me what should we do with words like :religion, morality, feelings compassion, love etc?
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ebrown p
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 05:53 pm
Chimpanzees without question display morality (even with social rules if these can be called ethics).

They display compassion sharing food, caring for their young, and even altruism where they will help another without any expectation of reward.

The display consciousness and uniqueness. They have self-identity and each has a unique place in their community and society.

You are going to have to come up with a better definition of soul if you want to distinguish us from the Chimps.

I think we are special-- but not for these reasons.
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djjd62
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 06:01 pm
http://www.canadianembassy.org/events/specialCovercitylights.jpg
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tessxyz
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 06:14 pm
Quote:
They display compassion sharing food, caring for their young, and even altruism where they will help another without any expectation of reward.


Apart from altruism I would say it is an instinct. Pls, give me an example of altruism when it comes to animals.


Quote:
I think we are special-- but not for these reasons.


Tell me why do you think humans are special?
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Eorl
 
  1  
Reply Tue 6 Mar, 2007 12:43 am
Some folks have a whole extra chromosome. They are special.
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Roberta
 
  1  
Reply Tue 6 Mar, 2007 04:30 am
tessxyz wrote:
Pls, give me an example of altruism when it comes to animals.



In chimpanzee bands, old and injured members are cared for and fed. These members are not needed for the survival of the group, yet it happens. I call that altruisim.
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Gelisgesti
 
  1  
Reply Tue 6 Mar, 2007 07:52 am
We are in nature, 'food', and nature is, in nature, indifferent.
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Cobbler
 
  1  
Reply Tue 6 Mar, 2007 04:12 pm
We are all special, but nobody is more special than another.
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cicerone imposter
 
  1  
Reply Tue 6 Mar, 2007 04:25 pm
I believe that the religious people consider the "soul" what we perceive in our brains - not in our hearts. It's who we are - in essence.

I'm more clinical than the reglious people; our brain is only the biiological and chemical reactions that provides us with our thinking and memory. If those chemicals get screwed up, our perception of what we consider to be our reality is dramatically altered.
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flushd
 
  1  
Reply Tue 6 Mar, 2007 06:58 pm
Jerry takes umbrage at your monkey chatter.

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4226/chimpwithgun2yg.jpg
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