Human Nature Vs. Animal Nature: What Distinguishes A Human

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Introduction

I will be arguing that the statement; “there is something special about human nature in comparison to other animals” is partially true. Despite humans and other species having similar genetics and similar traits, the human brain seems to be the most developed and the most complex in comparison to other species. I will begin my essay by examining the features of language, and analysing the ways in which it is both similar and different comparatively between humans and other species. I will outline Kevin Laland’s position on the act of copying and teaching as a method of passing down skills through the generations. I will also argue that humans have more complex social and cultural arrangements, however I will consider some objections to this theory and examine the cultural behaviours of other species. Lastly I will outline the genetic differences between humans and other animals, focusing specifically on great apes. These points will lead to the conclusion that human nature is only partially special in comparison to other animals, due to similarities between behaviours.

Language

The complexity of human language separates us from other species who also communicate, thus presenting some evolutionary differences and the advancement of the human brain. (Lamm, E, 2014, pp.946-952) argues that the evolution of language may be used as a key tool in defining and understanding aspects of human intelligence. Language was originally used as a method of survival, and tends to continue to be used for those purposes in other living organisms. Philosopher Noam Chomsky asked the question. “What had to evolve for language to exist?”(Lamm, E, 2014, pp.946-952). Lamm’s response to this question was that, as situations in life became more diverse and complex, communication breakdowns needed to occur. This involves the creation and conventionalisation of grammar and requires the brain to self-organise thoughts (Lamm, E, 2014, pp.946-952). Lamm believes that it is the evolutionary changes to the brain of individuals rather than the evolution of social institutions that cause these developments in human language (Lamm, E, 2014, pp.946-952). I do not entirely agree with this statement, as I believe that evolving social organisations require the advancement and adaptation of language, rather than the development of language coming prior.

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In contrast to Lamm’s view on language, Kako, E believes that other animals also have methods of advanced communication similar to that of humans. Kako looks at trained animals as a way to show intelligence, with African gray parrots being able to both comprehend, and produce, small portions of English. This provides evidence that animals can learn languages other than their own (Kako, E., 1999, pp.1–14.). Lamm also mentioned that humans developed a universal language for those who cannot or struggle to speak (Lamm, E, 2014, pp.946-952). This development of sign language he believed assists in the argument that human language has more complexity. This argument can be disputed by Kako’s research into bottle nose dolphins, stating that these animals can “comprehend a gestural and an acoustic language” (Kako, E., 1999, pp.1–14.). Whilst this evidence alone does not suggest that animals are equally or more intelligent than humans regarding means of language. It does suggest that despite humans having complex methods of communication and language, these features are not singular to the human brain. Therefore it would seem highly plausible that language separates humans and other animals to a parcial extent.

Copying vs teaching

The act of diligently copying as well as, teaching methods of survival and passing that on to the next generation enabled humans to develop faster than other animals. Humans ability to teach skills and pass those skills down for generations could be a considerable reason as to why human nature is considered to be partially more advanced and complex than other animals. Kevin Laland writes about some of the similarities between the way humans and other great apes pass down and learn information about survival skills from one another. Laland looks closely at the act of copying or mimicking other animals for survival techniques. He states that “animals don’t need a big brain to copy, however they do need a big brain to copy well”(Laland, K. N. (2018). What he means by this statement is that the act of copying can be done by almost any living organism. The act of simply copying by itself does not show high intelligence, or necessarily separate animals from each other. This statement does however suggest that it does take an intelligent animal to copy well, and thoroughly. Laland brings on a new idea of teaching, which he believes to be something that only humans have been able to execute well (Laland, K. N. (2018). It is this act of teaching that helped humans to advance, although our brain size is similar to other great apes, humans’ initiative of teaching the younger how to hunt and survive, led to the ability to build on these techniques(Laland, K. N. (2018). A quality that has arguably set humans above other animals is our ability to invent and create. Evidence of invention can be seen in other animals, such as chimpanzees where they make tools out of rocks and sticks to help them hunt and assist them in opening shells (Laland, K. N. (2018). This further implies that humans are only partially “special” from other animals, as many other animals have the capacity to learn things that we do, however overall we have advanced at a quicker speed than other animals.

Culture

The diversity and complexity of culture found in human relations creates a fundamental difference between the advancements of human nature in comparison to the nature of animals. Although the experience of culture is not select to humans, thus, it would seem most logical to argue that there is only a partial difference between human nature and the nature of other animals. Laland claims culture provided our ancestors with an environment in which survival techniques and inventions allowed the population to exploit their environment “more efficiently” (Laland, K. N. (2018). This suggests that humans used culture as a way to better themselves and work together to gain understanding about their environment and the ways in which they could thrive using the tools they had created. Culture is described as “behavioural patterns shared by members of a community that rely on socially transmitted information” (Laland, K. N. (2018). This definition of culture is not exclusive to humans and can apply to many other animals. However as mentioned above, transmission of information is something that humans are more advanced in than other species. Our method of teaching is thus far more likely to result in humans having a more advanced and developed culture. Philosopher Chirstophe Boesch presents the idea that in using the argument of human culture we are neglecting the cross-cultural variations in humans (Boesch, C., 2003). He argues that chimpanzees and humans have very similar practices of culture, chimpanzees are able to invent and use new tools and behavioural patterns which can “increase their freedom from environmental constraints” (Boesch, C., 2003). Despite this research humans have still acquired a strong sense of culture and have developed their abilities more than other animals. Thus, suggesting that whilst other species have elements of similarity to human culture, they are not as developed or complex, suggesting the idea that humans are only partially “special” in comparison to other animals.

Genetics

Genetic differences between humans and other primates are quite small, with both similarities and differences considered, it is clear that humans are only partially different in nature to other animals. Humans and chimpanzees have been found to share 99% similarity in a large amount of proteins (Hedlund, Maria et al, pp.4340–4346). Whilst this is a high similarity rate Cleary and Pigliucci state that millions of different combinations could be made within that remaining 1%, suggesting that the difference is actually highly significant (Skye Cleary & Massimo Pigliucci 2018). One of the genetic differences that Hedlund believes to be highly significant is the CMAH gene (Hedlund, Maria et al, pp.4340–4346). This gene is claimed to have been ‘deleted’ from the human body, resulting in the complete loss of Neu5ge. This creates defects in wound healing, and is thought to make humans more prone to diabetes and heart attacks (Hedlund, Maria et al, pp.4340–4346). This showcases a weakness in human genetics in comparison to other animals, especially Chimpanzees or other great apes. Thus, creating only a partial difference between humans and other animals.

Conclusion

Therefore the statement that; “there is something special about human nature in comparison to other animals” is only partially true. As reflected in this essay human nature is quite similar to other animals, specifically great apes. Similarities in behaviour are seen through acts of language, copying, culture and genetics. However these four factors also show some prominent differences between human nature in comparison to other animals. These slight differences enabled humans to develop at a higher speed than other animals, through the use of teaching, skills were able to be acquired and built on, our complex language and culture also enabled our more advanced society. Although it is important to note that in the grand scheme of things human nature is really only partially more ‘special’ in comparison to other animals.

References

  1. Boesch, C., 2003. Is culture a golden barrier between humans and chimpanzees? Evolutionary anthropology : issues, news, and reviews., 12(2), pp.82–91.
  2. Hedlund, Maria et al., N-glycolylneuraminic acid deficiency in mice: implications for human biology and evolution. Molecular and cellular biology : MCB, 27(12), pp.4340–4346.
  3. Kako, E., 1999. Elements of syntax in the systems of three language-trained animals. Animal learning & behavior., 27(1), pp.1–14.
  4. Laland, K. N. (2018) What Made Us Unique. (originally published with the title ‘An Evolved Uniqueness’ in Scientific American 319, 3, 32-39).
  5. Lamm, E., 2014. What Makes Humans Different. BioScience., 64(10), pp.946–952.
  6. Skye Cleary & Massimo Pigliucci 2018 ‘Human Nature Matters’.

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