Quote from: KirklandSignature on Mar 07, 2013, 05:13:19 PM
We polute, we kill beautiful creatures that have equally worked just as hard in trying to survive up to this point, and we needlessly kill each other in pointless wars.
Many other animals pollute just by existing in their natural habitat. They also kill, and enslave, and do horribly sadistic things to each other. Pack animals, hive-minded insect colonies. Even the beloved dolphin that so many will point to as the shining example of a species closing to our level of intelligence practice infanticide and rape regularly.
I'd go in the opposite direction. The human race is the only species on planet that has been able to actually stop and ask the question "Is this wrong?" We're the only one. The very fact that we have the capacity to condemn ourselves is demonstration enough that we as a species are
not evil. For all the senseless slaughter and brutality to be found in our species there is also something you seldom see in the large scale in other animals. We save our sick and injured, we create animal preserves and protected lands, we replant forests, we have hospitals and members of our species solely dedicated to helping other animals. Billions dedicated to feeding starving populations, billions in medical research.
Quote from: KirklandSignature on Mar 07, 2013, 05:13:19 PM
In a topic not at all related, Are humans preventing cats and dogs from evolving further? both species are fairly intelligent and I wonder if in the next few thousands of years will see them evolve into sapient creatures. If one branch of mammals can, why not them? Is this flawed logic in thinking that since primates evolved sentience, they can as well?
No, because that's not how evolution works. You cannot prevent a species from evolving except to destroy it outright.
You notice how things like the flu seem to need new vaccines every year? Even though we already created vaccines and built up an immunity? They adapt. They evolve. Split off. It's nature.