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To accuse man of being the only animal capable of depravity downplays the possibility of soul in the other life forms present in this kingdom. Man, as an animal, is noteworthy for its ability to manipulate its environment to make living conditions more favorable. Many other animals do the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale. Brutality is a part of nature. We know that humans can twist natural brutality into something monstrous and depraved. What makes you so sure that other animals are incapable of doing the same thing? Haven't you ever met a mean dog?
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To accuse man of being the only animal capable of depravity downplays the possibility of soul in the other life forms present in this kingdom. Man, as an animal, is noteworthy for its ability to manipulate its environment to make living conditions more favorable. Many other animals do the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale. Brutality is a part of nature. We know that humans can twist natural brutality into something monstrous and depraved. What makes you so sure that other animals are incapable of doing the same thing? Haven't you ever met a mean dog?
That said, I don't believe mankind is the ruin of the Earth at all. I believe we have the potential to become like gods; we are a race of beings with the ability to alter and direct the flow of evolution. We have been altering the face of the Earth for thousands of years, domesticating animals, building monuments to our own greatness, physically changing the layout of the land to plunder its natural bounty, and this is only the beginning. Just wait 'til we start colonizing other galaxies!
lol
Unless we blow ourselves up first ;-D
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You can't say anything for sure about man, because it's such a mixed up, twisted race. All you can do is fix yourself.
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Mankind (humankind to be more "politically" correct) is a part of the process. We pride ourselves on being better than and more than the natural processes of evolution and the ultimate divine oneness of all things. While in reality we are a part of it. At some point all species are destined for extinction. In the case of humankind, we have possibly intervened in the process enough to forestall that end. I don't believe that we will be the end of the earth, but I do believe we will play a large part in our own extinction and it may just be that our extinction (or dramatic reduction in numbers) is required for the Earth to regain its balance.
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Although I agree that the question is maybe flawed in defining us vs other creatures, I do feel that we have left our connection to nature, which we are a part of, and it is causing us to be the dumbest of creatures. Watching us arrogantly believe that we can "solve" the issues of how we live on this Earth based on "understanding" nature and the incessant "working around it" efforts certainly ensures our continued negative impacts. However, I do believe life is much more complex than we will ever be capable of understanding, yet, to our benefit, if we choose to connect back to the good of all living things, the equation is actually very, very simple and can allow the return of health to the whole. But we do need to make that choice, not keep doing as we are, otherwise we certainly continue to cause so much suffering for our fellow humans and other living things. Only then will true answers be found that work, not make new or worse problems.
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"Man is the only animal capable of killing its own species." Have you ever observed lions in Africa? When the males take over a pride, they kill all the resident cubs they have not sired to eliminate future competition.
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"Man is the only animal capable of killing its own species." Have you ever observed lions in Africa? When the males take over a pride, they kill all the resident cubs they have not sired to eliminate future competition.
"Will the Earth end prematurely because of us?" Unless and until we invent a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet, that is a pointless question.
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No, though I will not deny we are capable of it. We are a creative, curious species. We experiment with things, see what we can do with what we have, "progress" if you will. Sure we cause a lot of problems, but I believe we also have the capacity to solve them as technology and knowledge evolves.
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Nah, there is like a ton of answers to this but i'll give you the on from my point of view. Firstly, Our planet is will sooner or later cease to exist. The things we do to our planet has such a little actual impact on the planet that the "effects" you are talking about is only really an issue to us. The planet itself will be able to outlive us and repair without even "scarring" from it. Total inhalation happens once every 800 millionth year on the planets surface, with the ice age coming and going. I don't believe we are going to be our own killers, we are already working with so much in order to change what we've done, it is the same with all major changes it's a slow process but we're getting there. Tremendous steps are being taken every year in terms of environmental technology and stopping global warming. Now the problem is that not every one is all "pro mankind" they're fooling themselves to think that mankind has no power over earth, that we're to small to affect it, it is true but what they don't think is the what effects it has on the nature and humanity.
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The earth was here long before humans and will be here long after. Mother nature has a way of healing herself way beyond all our medical and technical advances. Yes humans are harming the earth and destroying ourselves because of greed and ignorance. The fear mongoring of someone or something is always after us, always a threat, yet the things we do everyday ie. overeat, smoke, lack or sleep, don't spend time with our loved ones, greed: is the real threat of our demise. Humans aren't the only species that kill their own. Many species kill over dominance as well as killing offspring to perserve their status. Humans however are the ones that kill for reasons other than survival (although we like to frame it that way). The earth will cleanse itself as it has done for millions of years and create a species that will serve her(earth) well.
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After reading this, and many similar questions on this site, I wonder if mankind is the only species capable of self-loathing.
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Mankind is a "self-ruined" species...in that we are fallen creatures due to Adam and Eve, making us naturally prone to evil and the like. But we are not animals, we are made in the image of God and, like you said, have the ability to love, create, imagine, etc at a significantly higher level than animals.
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Mankind is a "self-ruined" species...in that we are fallen creatures due to Adam and Eve, making us naturally prone to evil and the like. But we are not animals, we are made in the image of God and, like you said, have the ability to love, create, imagine, etc at a significantly higher level than animals.
This is by design, this is on purpose. The earth will eventually deteriorate, just like all of time and space will. We humans, however, are basically everlasting souls. We're eternal creatures, which serves as another differentiating factor between us and animals. Our physical bodies go away but at the end of time, we will reside in a new location, with a new body.
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It is my hope that the Earth will realize that we are easily destroyed and then smite us before it gets to that point. Sounds terrible, I know. But if we are causing severe harm and imbalance in the universe, then it is best simply to be rid of us. Evolution will ensure ultimate balance and strength. It is our choice whether that evolution will favor us as a species or not.
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Humanity is a bad case of fleas thats in the middle of a transition to something else. The planet isn't going to get ruined by us (no matter how bad things get the Earth will shake us off like a momentary pest)
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Humanity is a bad case of fleas thats in the middle of a transition to something else. The planet isn't going to get ruined by us (no matter how bad things get the Earth will shake us off like a momentary pest)
We are going one of two ways, the first is we succeed and take the next step into balanced living with the planet we exist on....or the other scenario is we get wiped off the planet (either by ourselves or from something else) and the earth continues on its path until its eventual demise.
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If we treated the earth like the Native American Indians use to, the earth would be safe from man's distructionist ways. Mostly, I think we care about our planet, but we get too materialistic and too busy to think about consequenes.
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On our current path it is certainly likely.
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On our current path it is certainly likely.
But one of the amazingly hopeful thing about our species, is that we are perhaps the ONLY species that can change it's own path. Instinct can and does hit us hard, have us responding automatically for something like self-preservation -- both actual AND perceived. But we have the freedom, the intelligence (?), the wisdom to buck our instincts and instead select a path chosen more by heart mind and spirit than by brute instinct.
So that would mean that the ruination of either ourselves as a species, an individual, or the planet upon which we are totally dependent is something we have a very great say in. Moreso than the rest of the lifeforms on this planet.
Which is why it is so sad and vexing to see us barreling along a path that can perhaps only end in close calls, 11th hour stays of execution courtesy of science, or eventually the ruination of either ourselves or the planet.
And this despite so many now seeing the inevitable desolation the current path is leading towards.
This, because we are simply too lazy (or too scared, or too slow?) to take hold of our future and toughing out the change to a new sustainable path.
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Oh dear, I'm afraid I couldn't get past your first sentence. Humanity is most definitely NOT the only animal capable of killing its own species. It is also not the only animal to kill for amusement. Have you ever seen a cat play with a mouse?
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You are wrong is saying man is the only animal capable of killing its own species. Any animal that fights during mating season can fatally wound each other. Also animals fight for territory and have fatally wounded each other. A man who kills for amusement is mentally abnormal and not a true representative of the species.
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You are wrong is saying man is the only animal capable of killing its own species. Any animal that fights during mating season can fatally wound each other. Also animals fight for territory and have fatally wounded each other. A man who kills for amusement is mentally abnormal and not a true representative of the species.
I think man is just another animal. Plenty of species ruin their own habitats through overpopulation and overusing resources and eventually it ends the the demise of their species. I don't believe we will ruin Earth, it will ruin us.
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