Chimpanzees

Thirty Bills Unpaid

I just watched the Disney production Chimpanzee with my daughter last night.

Chimps have colonies that bond together to make life easier.
Chimps have established territories that they guard against rival colonies.
Chimps seek to acquire the resources within rival colonies' territories.
Chimps have a societal hierarchy.
Chimps care for their young until they are young adults.

And I could go on. Sound familiar?

My question is: are we truly as special as we make ourselves out to be... or are we very simply another species of animal that is highly sophisticated in its ability to provide for itself?

Jason P

It's evolution, baby!

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Jason P wrote:

It's evolution, baby!

Chimpanzees wear nice suits.
Chimpanzees drive cars.
I could keep going on.

hedonist

This reminds me, in ways, of Ishmael.

These premises.

How anyone could not see the connections between apes and humans is beyond me. So many similarities, it's disheartening and uplifting at the same time.

We are no more special than any other species. Perhaps advanced, but even that is defined by our own standards.

Nature is amazing

BinauralJam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt3R6oTDt44 for Fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKUwdHex1Zs for Science

Thirty Bills Unpaid

hedonist wrote:

This reminds me, in ways, of Ishmael.

These premises.

How anyone could not see the connections between apes and humans is beyond me. So many similarities, it's disheartening and uplifting at the same time.

We are no more special than any other species. Perhaps advanced, but even that is defined by our own standards.

Nature is amazing

I'm in line with this way of thinking. We were chatting about this at work. We are really good at being efficient. For example, we create tools to make work easier and we grow our food instead of foraging for it.

Our level of sophistication tends to separate us from the other animals and distinguish us in some capacity, but, as this forum reveals over and over, many of our actions reveal our true nature.

hedonist

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

I'm in line with this way of thinking. We were chatting about this at work. We are really good at being efficient. For example, we create tools to make work easier and we grow our food instead of foraging for it.

Our level of sophistication tends to separate us from the other animals and distinguish us in some capacity, but, as this forum reveals over and over, many of our actions reveal our true nature.

True nature - now I've got a hankering for some Jane's Addiction.

Our true nature, I think, is just that...nature, in both actions and words. Do we feed our violent side? In some ways we do - even in some productive, therapeutic ways. I've never gone nuts in that sense on anyone, but I can say there've been times it's taken much self-discipline to hold back when going ballistic was boiling below the surface.

Ever seen how chimps learn about creating and using tools from each other and from humans? I caught a documentary about them awhile back, and that part fascinated me. That, and the obvious love and affection between parent and offspring.

Ah! Beautiful, intelligent creatures.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

They are very clever animals. They are also very emotional and caring animals. This link is a touching one of a mother tending to her dead infant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcJPaHFbsc0

Other chimpanzees are throughout the video showing support.