Are we the exeption to the rule?

Question

if you believe in evolution then an animal adapts to its enviroment, but we change our enviroment to adapt to us, is that just not the dogs bollocks?

Answer 1

I'll play devil's advocate:

1) The hidden conclusion your trying to lead us too is that Humans are NOT animals right?

2) Your logic, seems sound enough if your premises are true, But are they? Are they really representative of physical-reality???

3) Birds manipulate mud,sticks, etc to build shelters called nests; Just as humans manipulate concrete, trees, etc to build shelters called homes.  They differ only in degree of scale.

4) Based on the truth of #3 wouldn't you agree that both animals and humans have the capacity to 'change their environments to adapt to themselves'?  

5) It may be safer to say that humans are more self-aware of the changes they create about them, then other animals; but as one species being more or less effective at survival through manipulating environments the difference lay only in degree of magnitude and excess(luxury), rather then convenience and survival.

Answer 2

Selective breading is basically what causes animals to evolve, humans are no exception, we selectively bread therefore we evolve.

All that has changed is that we select our partners for different reasons.

Answer 3

Evolution suggests that species develop to take advantage of particular environments.  Giraffes developed because there was food available that ordinary gazelles couldn't reach.  Humans managed to adapt more than other animals and that is why we were so successful.  However, we have now overstretched our success and we are destroying the environment that supported us.

Answer 4

It depends upon your definition of environment.

If you view our planet as the main environment we interact with how do we control that?