The worst part of reading this thread is I know I won't be able to google image anything interesting related to "non-human hominids" :( Your comment was oddly depressing lol. Real "are we the baddies?" moment this morning.

▲ JumpCrisscross 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> won't be able to google image anything interesting related to "non-human hominids"

We were a large family [1].

> Real "are we the baddies?" moment

We were animals. We acted in accordance with our natures. Wolves and chimpanzees aren’t baddies any more than bees or hyenas. Nature is brutal.

Today, however, we are more than our natures. We have the capacity to criticize it when it arises in ways we disapprove of. In a certain sense, humans have a unique capacity to reduce suffering in a way without precedent in Earth’s natural history.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo

▲ unfitted2545 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

That's kinda ridiculous to think we're not animals anymore, our nature is to use intellect for survival (and though we know we can reduce suffering further we choose not to).

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ncr100 6 hours ago | parent [-]

It is a mind bender, yes.

Your argument, written here and As far as I understand it at the moment, goes along with the other argument that everything is a simulation, or that everything that we do is preordained based upon physics. All mindbenders.

I want to believe that I have the ability to make an educated decision when faced e.g. with impulses to suppress or oppress others, I do know that I can consider ramifications and benefits outside of those which directly impact me.

So, perhaps it's better to say, we can be unanimal like rather than simply not animal, at all? What do you think?

	▲	unfitted2545 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I do believe in determinism. I see what you mean by being able to consider the worth of harming something for your own gain. But doesn't this apply to all animals? If a bear was hungry I'm sure they would happily eat you, but they would probably think twice if they weren't. Same for early humans, it's just we have our technologies (which our intellectual nature has enabled) now to prop us up and not have to really think about survival. The main thing I'm curious to hear your thoughts on is what are we if not animals? Gods? That's surely completely relative, like an anteater to an ant.
	▲	WalterBright an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		> everything is a simulation The "simulation" is indistinguishable from god.
	▲	pinnochio 6 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> Your argument, written here and As far as I understand it at the moment, goes along with the other argument that everything is a simulation, What? This isn't a mindbender. You're just drawing lines. Edit: I slightly misread your comment as advocating that we're not animals. However, whether one describes us as not animals or able to be "unanimal like" is still a matter of drawing lines.

▲ reactordev 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

As equal to their ability to cause it. It’s this dichotomy that makes us, human. We have the power of destruction, the power of criticism, the power of nurturing, and the power to advance. We are amazing animals.

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throwaway173738 6 hours ago | parent [-]

You might say we have eaten the fruit of the tree of knowledge but not the tree of wisdom. So although we can act against our base nature we don’t always.

	▲	reactordev 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Fruit of knowledge, not a nut of wisdom.

▲ staplers 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

  humans have a unique capacity to reduce suffering in a way

With low cost to our wellbeing as well. Which I think is the main point. Our advances in logistical transportation and food production allow us to be kinder and more plentiful than ever before. Unfortunately we see "instinctual" echoes of past strife seemingly arise from minor inconveniences (those ppl do something that annoys me).

▲ rananajndjs 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[dead]

▲ pinnochio 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Today, however, we are more than our natures.

This really depends on how you define nature. Attempts to delineate what is and is not nature tend to be motivated.

▲ WarmWash 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Another way of looking at it is that humans (and apparently our close brethren) are tribal, don't give up fighting easily, and can generationally hold grudges.

Invaders of days gone by knew that even the young kids would grow up to "avenge their people", so to avoid problems (violence/killing against their tribe) in 10-15 years, it's better to just totally erase the population.

▲ WalterBright an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Real "are we the baddies?" moment this morning

Humans have a well-earned nickname: "murder apes"

▲ keybored 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Of course we are the baddies. That’s the narrative every time people need to defend terrible behavior lead by sociopaths: but that’s just human nature. Very practical fallback.