What is the difference between man and the animals?

Animals do not barter or purchase, they take without asking.

Animals don't question whether or not reality is real, animals just accept things as they are and go about their business.

Plants and animals haven't had this veil of ignorance forced upon them for thousands of years. Because they are already "in touch", they don't have to go through the problem of thinking, "Well, if I really want that, I'll never get it no matter how much I wish for it". They don't have those limitations.

Is "Free Will" the real difference between man and the animals? According to many philosophies, only humans may choose their own destiny. This implies that animals are incapable of making decisions. Personally, I've seen many animals exhibit exactly what I would term Free Will.

And not only that, I've seen animals express emotions that normally they would not be considered capable of. If a man has a soul, doesn't a dog? Or a horse? Or a bee? Or even an amoeba? I've had the great pleasure to know some animals in my days that definitely possess all the qualities that I would call "soul".

It's difficult to quantify that thing called "soul", that inner special feeling that we all have inside of us. And the hope that we will live on. Good-heartedness, emotions, and that inexplicable quality that is so similar to love and caring for others. So if a dog has a soul, why not an amoeba? Where does the gray line begin? And if an amoeba has a soul why not a plant?

If a human can go to "heaven", why not an animal? And for that matter, if an animal can go to heaven, why should it be restricted to mammals? Why not insects or plants? Are there separate heavens for humans and dogs? These absurd questions expose the ludicrous nature of "heaven" that many religions share.

Aristotle said "Man is the only animal that has speech".

The ability to reflect?

-analytical

This is what makes man different from the animals,

this is what makes technology and science possible.

Shards©1984