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→Are humans animals?: Belated ansewr to BMcP
::You acknowledge that the human body is mammalian - ie, that we are mammals. Mammals are one of many subsets of the kingdom ''animalia''. Yes, we differ from every other animal in some very important ways. But, '''for the purposes of describing the physical and biological nature''' of human beings, which is all that the scientific classification is intended to do, being multicellular and eukaryotic is of more fundamental importance than our intelligence, cultural achievements, ethics, or anything else.
::You acknowledge that the human body is mammalian - ie, that we are mammals. Mammals are one of many subsets of the kingdom ''animalia''. Yes, we differ from every other animal in some very important ways. But, '''for the purposes of describing the physical and biological nature''' of human beings, which is all that the scientific classification is intended to do, being multicellular and eukaryotic is of more fundamental importance than our intelligence, cultural achievements, ethics, or anything else.
:::My possession of a mammalian body no more makes me a "[[mammal]]" than your position of property and use of money makes you a "[[Capitalist]]". In my view, human society and the [[Animal kingdom]] are distinct, by virtue of the fundamental [[God]]-given differences between [[human nature]] and the mere [[instinct]] of animals, as well as the divine commandment or "blessing" to take dominion over the entire [[natural world]].
:::*"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." King James Version, Genesis 1:28
:::*"God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." New International Version, Genesis 1:28
:::You are free to believe [[Feuerbach]]'s view that, "Man is a [[higher animal]] which developed from animals through the process of [[evolution]]." As a writer here, you are free to trace the source of this view, and to tell which scientists agree with it. But please don't assert it as [[truth]]; you might try telling us what percent of biologists or other scientists agree with it, though. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] <sup>[[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]]</sup> 11:22, 20 January 2010 (EST)
::It is regrettable that you conflate the meanings of ''animal'' as a neutral term for certain types of organisms, ''animal'' as a colloquial term for non-human animals, and ''animal'' as a pejorative description for a human being who acts upon their most base impulses. As a piece of scientific terminology, no such negative connotations are intended.
::It is regrettable that you conflate the meanings of ''animal'' as a neutral term for certain types of organisms, ''animal'' as a colloquial term for non-human animals, and ''animal'' as a pejorative description for a human being who acts upon their most base impulses. As a piece of scientific terminology, no such negative connotations are intended.