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Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by Hanslune
are we talking human, or hominid?
This is interesting. I am more interested in the psychology and intellectual features of creatures, be they human or not. Finding examples of "art" from any non human, even if a closely related cousin, is very interesting to me.
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
I fully believe that. There is this redhead lady on NBC that reports on Today sometimes that I swear looks like a Neandertal descendant.
But the intellect. The mindset. The worldview. How did humans first begin to use abstract thought to a degree that he could use it as a problem solving skill? When was speech first used to convey abstract information? HOw did speech affect this thought skill that we have?
And the whole concept of the bicameral mind....that is, alone, a mindblowing possibility that I would absolutely LOVE to see examples of how it would actually manifest outwardly.
We are fairly highly developed intellectually compared to other animals. I would assume that there would be an evolution of this intellect. It is something that interests me. I enjoy watching people and animals now, just to learn more about those i share this planet with. It is just something I do. It is particuarly fun to observe people on this (or any other) forum.
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
My dog, if i point at something, stares at the end of my finger. This is concrete thought. Something that serves most animals well.
Originally posted by Byrd
They're humans. Give 'em a haircut, jewelry, some tattoos, and clothes and they'd look a lot like the rest of us.
Originally posted by demongoat
well yes, our neocortex is the most developed in the animal kingdom, along with other parts of the cerebrum.
our higher brain functions are the result of the evolutionary shift from body to brain, of course there is a downside to this. it made our heads bigger than the pelvis of female humans, hence why childbirth is so painful and dangerous, our heads are huge!
Originally posted by demongoat
luckily it isn't enough to cause a problem for the human species' survival, since many women despite the size can give birth without dying, so they can raise their children.
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by kdog1982
You basically support Mazlow.
I do, too.
Men who are running from predators, or scrounging for scraps, have no time to look to the heavens and dream.
Originally posted by wrkn4livn
reply to post by FraternitasSaturni
So, the earth being 4.5 billions years old, is it safe to assume it's been habitable for maybe 1 billion years? How many advanced civilizations could have come and gone (turned to dust) within this time frame? To think we are the pinnacle civilization that's been on the planet is short sighted IMO.