Latest Activity
- Groups News
- Everything
doone replied to doone's discussion Ugly Pictures of Animals in the group Animal | Vegetable | Mineral
Hope replied to Neal's discussion Sharia law used in the United Arab Emirates to jail Australian woman after she was gang-raped in the group Atheists in the Middle East
Matttammar commented on Robert Joseph Jagiello's blog post From What Sources Do You Derive Strength and Consolation As you Face the Abyss?
Michel posted a videoJohn Cleese Explaining Stupidity
Top Content
We are a worldwide social network of freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and secular humanists.
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
Birthdays Tomorrow
What Is Human Nature?
Here's a typically human question:
WHAT sort of creature is the human? The obvious answer is a smart, talkative, upright ape with a penchant for material possessions.
But what about the more subtle concept of human nature? That is more controversial. Some deny it exists, preferring to believe that we can be anything we want to be. They cannot be right.
Although we exhibit lots of individual and cultural variations, humans are animals, and like all animals we have idiosyncrasies, quirks and characteristics that distinguish us as a species. An invading alien would have no trouble categorising us but, being so close to our subject matter, we struggle to pin down the essence of humanness.
Nevertheless, the task may not be beyond us. Anthropologists have identified many “human universals” – characteristics shared by all people everywhere, which constitute a sort of parts list of our species. What if we were to use these to examine the human animal in the same way we would study any other?
As the following articles reveal, what emerges is a suite of characteristics that encapsulate our nature – and a rather peculiar one it proves to be. If you thought you knew what humans were like, then think again.
Being playful
All mammals play - but no other species pursues such a wide variety of entertainment or spends so much time enjoying themselves.
Being scientific
Humans are constantly sorting the world into categories, predicting how things work, and testing those predictions - the essence of science.
Being legislative
Chimps stick to simple behavioural norms, but we humans, with our language skills and greater brainpower, have developed much more elaborate systems of rules, taboos and etiquette.
Being epicurean
Compared with other animals, the feeding behaviour of humans is exceedingly odd. Where they just eat, we make a meal of it.
Being clandestine
Nothing is quite as puzzling as our predilection for clandestine copulation. Why do humans have sex in private?
Being gossipy
Language has shaped our nature profoundly - and arguably, our way with words reaches its apogee in gossip.
--------------------------------------------
So what do you think about this list of human "skills"?
Anything missing or that should not be there?
From New Scientist.
Unfortunately articles on the specific topics in the list above are behind a paywall.
Tags: animal, anthropology, human, nature
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on -
Looks like I can't read these without a membership to New Scientist. Re: the gossip. It's been suggested that individuals who refrain from gossiping end up being group outcasts. I think on this site we've posted some articles on the evolution of gossip and language.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Adriana on -
Yes, there are many "human universals". It is a mystery to me why people fought against this concept so hard. We are malleable, but we can't be "all we want to be", we are defined by our biology in many ways and our behavior is one of them.
I did not know that all human groups prefer to hide for the sexual act; that's an interesting one. I wonder when it got started. Chimps hide to copulate is when females want to consort with other males, not the alpha male.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on
-
Kind of makes you wonder if infidelity is driven as much by a desire for "clandestine" sex acts as it is for a desire for sexual release. Meaning, the thrill of covert sex is just motivating as the trill of human contact.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Michel on -
...why people fought against this concept so hard.
Acceptance would imply that all humans are equal.
Not everyone is ready for this concept =( -
-
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on
-
But people are not equal. They should be granted equal access, rights, considerations, and privileges, but biologically we are never truly equal. And I catagorically refuse to accept that I am equal in value, intelligence, etc., to the likes of Beck, Limbaugh, Bush, et al. They are clearly my inferiors.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Michel on
-
They should be granted equal access, rights, considerations, and privileges.
That's what I meant by equality. These are exactly what proves so hard to swallow for those who believe (with a conviction similar to yours =) that they are superior to others by some magical virtue.
Although I'm pretty certain your own views on inequality are not based on a supernatural attribute =)
-
-
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on
-
Although I'm pretty certain your own views on inequality are not based on a supernatural attribute =)
Ha, no! Nor on race, gender, nationality, intelligence (okay maybe a little), or any of that other trash. Just plain human honesty and decency. The fact that I can at least admit to myself that I am not absolutely honest or decent is enough to place me head and shoulders above that lot of scoundrels.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Adriana on
-
Yes. But you and that lot of scoundrels share common behaviors, like gossiping, humping in private, being an epicurean, trying to make predictions about how the world works, etc. :-)
-
-
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on
-
Spoilsport.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Davy on -
I always remember this line from the Desiderata.
If you compare yourself to others, you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
We are all equal but what we say, what we do is what makes us greater or lesser than others in our societies view.
-
© 2013 Created by Atheist Universe.
Powered by
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
