What are some aspects of the human condition that separate us from the animals?

Question

What are some aspects of the human condition that separate us from the animals?

Answer 1

Opposable thumbs, walking upright (allowing us to use our hands while traveling) and a knack for advanced speech.

I don't knwo that we are "smarter" but we have better tools and communication.

Answer 2

Surprisingly few.  The more we learn about non-human intelligence and the diversity of non-human behavior, the fewer.  Yes, humans are rare (but not entirely unique) because of our opposable thumbs, fully bipedal locomotor habit, stereoscopic vision, complex visually analytical mental apparatus and (if you believe in its usefulness as a scientific concept) complexity of culture. But the only thing I believe to be entirely unique is our own desire to believe that we are unique, and our ability to create complex, pseudo-rational, sets of beliefs to justify our own self-importance.  Of course, since we know comparitively little about non-human languages, non-human culture, and non-human intelligence, even this could be incorrect.

don't use this answer for your homework - if you're in an anthropology class your professor will probably not take kindly to it.

Answer 3

intelligence, conscience

Answer 4

If you believe in the Theory of Evolution, in the Theory of Evolution, the only difference is the power of speech and humans learning to use technology.

Answer 5

thumbs man. thumbs.

Also, and I'm not sure about this, but our sense of right and wrong, and justice.

Answer 6

Separate implies difference in kind, when the difference between we human animals and other animals is one of degree, not kind.

Answer 7

The ability to destroy the planet we live on faster than any other species! Yay!