Comments on: The Paragon of Animals http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/ se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:26:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Devin http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-6056 Devin Fri, 10 Feb 2006 03:16:14 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-6056 This is probably one of the most important and yet overlooked things you've written, Jason. Thanks for linking to it again. This is probably one of the most important and yet overlooked things you’ve written, Jason. Thanks for linking to it again.

]]> By: Dr. Obvious http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-976 Dr. Obvious Thu, 18 Aug 2005 04:54:48 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-976 We find "meaning" in our fucking, feeding, and fighting. Well we would, wouldn't we? Still, it's not like we can transcend those meanings so why our mental life should be in some God's eye point of view more meaningful than adaptations peculiar to a randy, hungry, angry whale is the kind of language defect I don't suppose whales suffer much. We find “meaning” in our fucking, feeding, and fighting. Well we would, wouldn’t we? Still, it’s not like we can transcend those meanings so why our mental life should be in some God’s eye point of view more meaningful than adaptations peculiar to a randy, hungry, angry whale is the kind of language defect I don’t suppose whales suffer much.

]]> By: Anonymous http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-730 Anonymous Sat, 04 Jun 2005 03:14:00 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-730 Whether or not our differences are of degree or kind doesn't really seem to change this conclusion. The unique structure of the dinosaur's hip was something entirely new in the history of life on earth. It's entirely possible that consciousness was the unique contribution of humanity. Having taken a few cognitive science classes, I know that the degree/kind/emergence argument is one that can be debated indefinitley. In the end, who cares? While humans may hold traits unique among the animal kingdom, it is clear we haven not evolved a magical shroud that grants us ecological immunity +2. A professor I had was of the opinion that consciousness was found no-where else in the animal kingdom, and was itself an emergent illusion in humans. Whether or not he was correct was beside the point. Countless cultures lived (and now live) in constant and intimate communication with the intellegent, sentient rest of the universe. I just find this infinitley more attractive than poking at robotic paramecium with a sterile, lifeless scalpel. Whether or not our differences are of degree or kind doesn’t really seem to change this conclusion. The unique structure of the dinosaur’s hip was something entirely new in the history of life on earth. It’s entirely possible that consciousness was the unique contribution of humanity.

Having taken a few cognitive science classes, I know that the degree/kind/emergence argument is one that can be debated indefinitley. In the end, who cares? While humans may hold traits unique among the animal kingdom, it is clear we haven not evolved a magical shroud that grants us ecological immunity +2.

A professor I had was of the opinion that consciousness was found no-where else in the animal kingdom, and was itself an emergent illusion in humans. Whether or not he was correct was beside the point. Countless cultures lived (and now live) in constant and intimate communication with the intellegent, sentient rest of the universe. I just find this infinitley more attractive than poking at robotic paramecium with a sterile, lifeless scalpel.

]]> By: Vicky http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-723 Vicky Sun, 29 May 2005 18:03:18 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2005/05/the-paragon-of-animals/#comment-723 Fluffy tails are what seperate rabbits from the animals. Fluffy tails are what seperate rabbits from the animals.

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