Is homo sapiens the only species to use symbolism ?

Question

Is homo sapiens the only species to use symbolism ?

Answer 1

No Neandertal Man did as well.  as many of our primate ancestors. Usually for Water, food, hunting, enemies, etc.

P.S. We are Homo Sapien Sapien. (2 sapiens not one)

Answer 2

No, we are not.  There are many species that use symbolism to communicate.  However, homo sapiens are the only species who place quasi-meaning on those symbols.  Other species place "literal" meanings to the symbols they use...  that is, any kind of symbolism for other species is like the symbolism of letters to us.  Letters have a literal symbolism for us, whereas a cross, or the color purple, can have "intuitive" meanings as well as literal meanings for us.

That is, other species do not have the cognitive capacities homo sapiens does...  "intellect" is what sets us apart and discerns how symbols are used by us versus other non-human species.  I would say this would also apply to other primates, they do not have the cognitive capacity...  apes can be taught sign language, but they do not grasp the "visual" meaning behind the literal meaning of a sign.

Answer 3

Recent evidence shows that apes are capable of it.

Answer 4

The best place to start would be to define symbolism.  Symbols become the object they represent.  It would be impossible for any other species to describe the potency of the symbols they employ.  Homo sapiens are the only species that can describe why they use the symbols they do. A crucifix, the bald eagle, all mean different things to different people.  Most of the examples people have given are instinctual behavior that is used to attract potential mates.  Not symbolism.

Answer 5

Some birds use pretty stone and things to attract mates, would that count?

Answer 6

Yes.  As wikipedia explains, Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin: "wise man" or "knowing man") in the family Hominidae (the great apes). Humans have a highly developed brain capable of abstract reasoning, language, and introspection. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees their upper limbs for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species. Humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago, but they now inhabit every continent, with a total population of over 6.5 billion as of 2007.

Like most primates, humans are social by nature; however, humans are particularly adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of cooperating and competing groups, ranging in scale from small families and partnerships to species-wide political, scientific and economic unions. Social interactions between humans have also established an extremely wide variety of traditions, rituals, ethics, values, social norms, and laws which form the basis of human society. Humans also have a marked appreciation for beauty and aesthetics which, combined with the human desire for self-expression, has led to cultural innovations such as art, literature and music.

Humans are also noted for their desire to understand and influence the world around them, seeking to explain and manipulate natural phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills; humans are the only known species to build fires, cook their food, clothe themselves, and use numerous other technologies.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

Family: Hominidae

Genus: Homo

Species: H. sapiens

Subspecies: H. s. sapiens



TRINOMIAL NAME

Homo sapiens sapiens (Linnaeus, 1758)

Wikipedia also added - The closest living relatives of Homo sapiens are the two species of chimpanzee: the Bonobo (Pan paniscus) and the Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). The two species are equally close (they share the same common ancestor), the main difference between them is the social organization: matriarchal for the Bonobo and patriarchal for the Common Chimpanzee. Full genome sequencing resulted in the conclusion that "after 6.5 million years of separate evolution, the differences between bonobo/chimpanzee and human are just 10 times greater than those between two unrelated people and 10 times less than those between rats and mice". In fact, 98.4% of the DNA sequence is identical between the two Pan species and human. It has been estimated that the human lineage diverged from that of chimpanzees about five million years ago, and from gorillas about eight million years ago. However, a hominid skull discovered in Chad in 2001, classified as Sahelanthropus tchadensis, is approximately seven million years old, which may indicate an earlier divergence.

This is Darwin Theology -  As Abraham lincoln said "All men are created monkey" Now I know why  there is still monkey around, it took them millions of years to transform.  Someday this great earth whom God created will soon become the planet of the Apes.

Praise God, am not one of them, coz I was created in the image and likeness of God.

Answer 7

Very good question. I think we are the only species to use symbolism. Animals have rudimentary forms of communication that, as far as we know, can only achieve basic responses.

Answer 8

See above.

A symbol is an abstract representation. Until a few years ago, I too believed we held the sole franchise. Then, I saw some artwork that had been drawn by a gorilla friend of Koko's (the one that signs, another form of abstract expression). His name is Michael. His paintings shattered completely my delusions of our exclusive divine spark. His use of color and energy is...artistic. He can also relate the story of how his mother was killed.

Answer 9

Some species of bees can do a "dance" which symbolically communicates directions to a destination.  Lions will symbolize that they intend to bite you by showing teeth.  Neanderthal man buried their dead with ocre as some type of symbol.  Many species have technology, and communication, but homo sapien is the ONLY species to have grammar.  Grammar is what sets our "symbolic" communication completely apart from all other species.  Other species may have components of language, but we have grammar.

Answer 10

no.  Go watch "Planet Earth".  They show all kinds of species of animal using symbolism.  dolphins using rocks to attract mates etc.