Re: thoughts on Jesus


"Féachadóir" <Féach@d.óir> wrote in message
news:6ag934l12f0hecv9ejmncr9mv7arvl09f4@xxxxxxxxxx
Scríobh "alwaysaskingquestions" <alwaysaskingquestions@xxxxxxxxx>:
Féachadóir wrote:
Scríobh "alwaysaskingquestions" <alwaysaskingquestions@xxxxxxxxx>:
Féachadóir wrote:
Scríobh "alwaysaskingquestions" <alwaysaskingquestions@xxxxxxxxx>:

[...]

This 'imagination' seems to be a very pwerful tool for survival,
how come man is the only species to have developed it to a
significant extent?

Because man is the only species to have a brain sophisticated
enough to have it.

Well, as far as we know, and there is some debate on the issue.

Where is the debate?

Google on primates and sign language, their capacity for abstract
thought etc

I've referred to that elsewhere in the thread, that other species
show a limited capacity for cognitive abilities but, despite their
obvious advantages for survival, Man is the only species to develop
them to a *significant* extent.

Your subjective assessment is irrelevant. There's nothing unique about
your abilities. You might as well argue that blue whales are special
because nothing else is as big. We're at the end of a spectrum, not in
a class of our own.

A spectrum suggests a series of graduated points with some overlap, not
the
massive leap from say chimpanzees to Man as opposed to say dogs to
chimpanzees (examples only, pick whatever comparative species you like)

I do not accept the assertion that the leap from chimp to man is
massive in comparison to the leap from dog to chimpanzee, but we'll
let that slide.

If you want more fine grain between chimp and man (or rather from our
common ancestor to us both) spend a little time learning about your
closest relatives. You know, H Neanderthal, H Erectus, H Habilis, all
those Australopithecines....

The problem is comparing those in terms of cognitive development. The only
available indicator is tool use. It is thought that australopithecines *may*
have used tools but those were available stones as opposed to "manufactured"
tools which seem to have started with H Habilis. I think that there is at
least a prima facie case for saying that there was a significant change in
cognitive development with H Habilis so I don't really see what your point
is.


.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: thoughts on Jesus
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