Humans're a special creation

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 942 here:

...
humans are a special creation
...

For debate:

Please offer some means to confirm the claim is true and factual.

Folks're reminded that in this section of the site the Bible ain't considered authoritative.

[1213]

From Post 942 here:

...
humans are a special creation
...

For debate:

Please offer some means to confirm the claim is true and factual.
...

Special = better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual. No other creation has told to me that I am not special. If I go to speak to ants, and say "I am special", they don't say "no, your are not". Same is with every other creation. All though I have to admit, I have not done that really, I just assume it to be so.

[Miles]

From Post 942 here:

...
humans are a special creation
...

For debate:

Please offer some means to confirm the claim is true and factual.
...

Special = better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual. No other creation has told to me that I am not special. If I go to speak to ants, and say "I am special", they don't say "no, your are not". Same is with every other creation. All though I have to admit, I have not done that really, I just assume it to be so.

Has any "creation" ever told you that you are special? My bet is that they have not. The only "creation" that may have suggested you are special is your own kind, "WE are special."


.

[JoeyKnothead]

Special = better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual. No other creation has told to me that I am not special. If I go to speak to ants, and say "I am special", they don't say "no, your are not". Same is with every other creation. All though I have to admit, I have not done that really, I just assume it to be so.

If you're going off what other creatures haven't told you, what of em not telling you you're an (insert insult)?

Sorry bout that insult there, I hafta tell it to ask the question.

[nobspeople]

Special = better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual. No other creation has told to me that I am not special. If I go to speak to ants, and say "I am special", they don't say "no, your are not". Same is with every other creation. All though I have to admit, I have not done that really, I just assume it to be so.

If you're going off what other creatures haven't told you, what of em not telling you you're an (insert insult)?

Sorry bout that insult there, I hafta tell it to ask the question.

No creature has ever told me I'm not an Xyotoglyph. So I must be a Xyotoglyph. WOO HOO! Special baby!

[Miles]

Even if it could be shown that humans occupy a unique position in the known universe, that wouldn't establish that they are a "special creation."

I can't see why not; occupying a unique position in the known universe arguably fits the very definition of "special"

Just what is this "unique position," and how do you know humans occupy it? For my Bible tells me so ?

.

[nobspeople]

Even if it could be shown that humans occupy a unique position in the known universe, that wouldn't establish that they are a "special creation."

I can't see why not; occupying a unique position in the known universe arguably fits the very definition of "special"

Just what is this "unique position," and how do you know humans occupy it? For my Bible tells me so ?

.

Using the idea of 'occupying a unique position in the known universe', one could make most, if not all, things unique to some fashion.
Penguins are special. Some don't fly in the air, but in water.
Fish are special as they naturally use oxygen in the water that humans can't. Or the very birds that 'fly' in the water (some penguins).
Insects are unique in that they have exoskeletons and nothing else does.
Bats are unique in that no other mammal can fly.
Humans are not really any more or less unique using this manner (everything has its 'own' unique property). The only thing that makes people think humans are occupying a unique position in the known universe is because they want that 'uniqueness'. The bible even says 'made in the image of god' to promote that uniqueness.
It's a fun and self elevating concept to have. And if it works for some, boo yeah! But, logically, the idea of occupying a unique position in the known universe making people 'more special than XYZ' falls flat.
Some may say that the idea of occupying a unique position in the known universe 'special' also falls flat.

[Miles]

Even if it could be shown that humans occupy a unique position in the known universe, that wouldn't establish that they are a "special creation."

I can't see why not; occupying a unique position in the known universe arguably fits the very definition of "special"

Just what is this "unique position," and how do you know humans occupy it? For my Bible tells me so ?

.

Using the idea of 'occupying a unique position in the known universe', one could make most, if not all, things unique to some fashion.
Penguins are special. Some don't fly in the air, but in water.
Fish are special as they naturally use oxygen in the water that humans can't Or does. Or the very birds that 'fly' in the water (some penguins).
Insects are unique in that they have exoskeletons and nothing else does.
Bats are unique in that no other mammal can fly.
Humans are not really any more or less unique using this manner (everything has its 'own' unique property). The only thing that makes people think humans are occupying a unique position in the known universe is because they want that 'uniqueness'. The bible even says 'made in the image of god' to promote that uniqueness.
It's a fun and self elevating concept to have. And if it works for some, boo yeah! But, logically, the idea of occupying a unique position in the known universe making people 'more special than XYZ' falls flat.
Some may say that the idea of occupying a unique position in the known universe 'special' also falls flat.

Yeah, ego boosting often takes silly spins. "I'm unique (better), because as a human I can ________fill in the blank___________ and nothing else can.


.

[TRANSPONDER]

I'm pretty sure it's the ability to reason that is what makes us special, according to religious Dogma and perhaps even philosophical thought. 'Consciousness' is one of the Big Three apologetics; it IS a bit hard to explain just why and how we have reasoning.

Of course I don't buy that it's because we disobeyed God by eating a fruit that would give us morals, even though Morality is the basis of God's nature, and we are supposed to be made in His image. I won't debate the logic of Eden, let alone a set up to get man to sin, but I can see a clear evolutionary path of consciousness and even ethics, just as I can for Life and eventually society. Rather like the 'hard question', I can see clearly that Consciousness will be answerable or explainable in the near future, even if I can't do it right now, but I can see a more plausible and evidence - based hypothesis than God made us Special.

[nobspeople]

I'm pretty sure it's the ability to reason that is what makes us special, according to religious Dogma and perhaps even philosophical thought. 'Consciousness' is one of the Big Three apologetics; it IS a bit hard to explain just why and how we have reasoning.

Of course I don't buy that it's because we disobeyed God by eating a fruit that would give us morals, even though Morality is the basis of God's nature, and we are supposed to be made in His image. I won't debate the logic of Eden, let alone a set up to get man to sin, but I can see a clear evolutionary path of consciousness and even ethics, just as I can for Life and eventually society. Rather like the 'hard question', I can see clearly that Consciousness will be answerable or explainable in the near future, even if I can't do it right now, but I can see a more plausible and evidence - based hypothesis than God made us Special.

Many animals can reason according to C. Bukner, so that may not make humans special, either. Unless, one prioritizes how 'able' a human can reason, maybe?
At any rate:
https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2017 ... 20problems.


I think humanity seriously underestimates the ability and capability of animals, likely due to the need to feel superior or 'special'.

[TRANSPONDER]

I'm not sure they can reason to the level of humans though, (I may be wrong) but certainly consciousness, empathy and a lot of characteristics of human thought seem to be there in higher animals and problem -solving is remarkably often found. It's one reason why (I agree) we aren't as special as we might have thought.