What Makes Humans so Unique?

What makes human beings unique? Why is it that humans are so different from other beings on the planet? There are several features exhibited by human beings that set them apart my the animal kingdom.

The first of these features is the human ability to plan. While it may be argued that some animals share the ability to plan, David Chiras (2005) notes that the acts of such animals (bears hibernating, animals storing for the winter, and birds building nests) are inherent behaviors, and not necessarily the result of forethought. In contrast, human beings plan both for future events, and for highly complex structures. Think of the ancient temples of Asia, the castles in Europe, or the skyscrapers of New York; these structures require a great amount of planning and forethought. Cities build irrigation systems to handle excessive rainfall, and set up postal systems to communicate. Each of these things show that humans have and exhibit the ability to plan and take the future into account.

Another unique feature is culture. Human's have built elaborate cultures including language, norms, skills, and art. It is important to note here that the language referred to here is the complex language. Language can be seen in animals such as birds and monkeys, but these languages are hardly the complex languages that are seen in human cultures. Take the use of nouns and verbs, the gender words of French, the complex intonation found in Chinese, and the combination of writing systems found in Japanese. Additionally, humans have created profound pieces of art, including music, painting, plays, novels, etc. Along these same lines, humans have developed and honed skills such as the aforementioned architecture and art.

Lastly, humans have a unique, if arguably destructive, ability to shape the environment to suit human needs. While it is true that humans have caused a thinning ozone layer, and landfills full of environmentally harmful material, humans have also created some amazing things. For example, humans have created power sources, television, telephone service, and in home amenities such as heating and cooling. On a grander scale, think Hoover Damn. Human's have a unique ability to alter the environment in order to harness nature. Surely, our attempts don't always work, and we still suffer from natural disasters such as floods, fires, and earthquakes; however, there is no arguing that humans have come a long way in creating a more hospitable environment to reside in. Unfortunately, this new environment can be, and often is, harmful for the earth and its plant, animal, and insect inhabitants. Hopefully human innovation and skill will lead us to more environmentally friendly ways of life. Surely we have the skills to do so.

References:

Chiras, D., D. (2005). Human Biology, 5^th Ed. Sudbury, Ma. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Hurford, J. (Nd). Human Uniqueness, Learned Symbols and Recursive Thought. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/~jim/europeanreview.html