Thought Paper 1:
The Uniqueness of Humans
Aggression, or displaying any form of hostility towards others, is one of our initial reactions when our anger arises. Some people, out of utter fury because of severe reasons, tend to become overly aggressive which leads them to commit immoral deeds such as killing (another human, where organized violence and genocide are involved). That is indeed evident among humans but what we didn’t know was that, it happens among other species of animals, too.
As what Dr. Sapolsky stated in his example, “the leading cause of death among male baboons are male baboons”. There are other reasons why other animals kill but the key point is that we, humans, are not alone in doing such sinful behaviour. “We are not the only species that kills.”
The only thing that makes us different from them is that, we’re capable of terminating or harming the life of another of our own species in a whole new level. That’s what makes us humans unique. We are known for our notoriety. That can never be parallel and comparable to any other species aside from ours.
After knowing of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, I’ve since then believed that humans are not much different from animals. We have seen how we have developed from apes and how we are closely related to primates. Surely, that would make us accept the fact that we are definitely one of them. But over the years, I’ve come to ponder upon the thought that maybe, we do have certain differences from them; even more so after watching what Dr. Sapolsky discussed.
I was totally enthralled when he mentioned that within those six domains, animals think and behave how we would, thus adding to the “truth” that I have faith in. But what I didn’t realize was that we are on a much higher level from them. Humans indeed have capabilities of doing “unique-er” acts but back then, I didn’t count them as a big difference; only the varying degrees of intelligence. I never thought that there does exist a thick line between our intellectual dissimilarities. Only humans can conjure up ideas that wouldn’t make way for itself into the cerebral span of another animal species. And that’s what makes us unique and the supreme species in the Animal Kingdom.

Roginia Gay A. Retiracion
BS Fisheries I