What is the defining characteristic of humans? Would we benefit more if it were something different?

Question

Thanx for any and all answers everyone :-)

Have a great day!!

Answer 1

Yes indeed, I agree that what separates us from our brother animals is our ability to use logic. Note that I said "ability" rather than "propensity".

It has been my experience that, far too often, people equate the words "logical" and "obvious" -- disastrously.

Every war ever fought has seemed totally reasonable to someone -- generally the winners thereof.

Answer 2

Humans are bipedal mammals with the faculty of speech and memory that can be communicated to others. Brain capacity and vocalisation go along with the ability to adapt environment by the use and manufacture of tools.  This makes us the most universal in our total environment and ability to dominate other animals as well as others of our own species.  It  is only a simple modification that makes this beneficial rather than detrimental, the capacities of compassion and humility.

Answer 3

Self symbolism. Would we benefit who more. All would benefit more if we were all successfully human (easier said than done)

http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/mot...

Answer 4

Humans is the exceptional species.  

Complex thoughts and feelings, achievements and many other things that distinguish the human race from anything else.

What amazes me is that it is only Human who are aware of Death, all too soon...  This, has made me thinking...  Since humans are aware too soon that we will die some day.... shouldn't we make our Life worth it?   Just a thought....

Answer 5

the defining characteristic of humans is our ability to see thing from other perspectives. we are the only ones know to do so and its the reason why we are able to understand each other and why people act the way we do.

Answer 6

I think its our ability to use logic.But then again not all of us use logic.

Answer 7

We exist in all planes of reality simultaneously, the physical, the astral, the mental, and the spiritual, AND we have free use of will power to control our energy at all planes.  There you have it once and for all.

Answer 8

The "defining" characteristic since Aristotle identified it is that we are the "rational animal." Our name, Homo sapiens sapiens, says it: sapience of sapience, or knowledge of knowledge.

It is consciousness of our own cognitive abilities that allows this sapient sapience. The only thing that might benefit us more is if we STUDIED logic instead of just thinking we knew what was "common sensical."

Having sapient sapience is as close to being God as any creature can get, short of having omniscience.