PUBLIC OPINION > Atheists Think Apes Can Outthink Humans; Christians, Not So Much
SodaHead News
2012/06/26 15:00:00
Scientists are investing an increasing amount of time and money into the study of animal cognition, and with nearly every new investment comes a new discovery. More and more, it's becoming apparent that we've been underestimating animals, and that's especially true with apes. Recently, studies have shown that there is only a 1.3% difference between human DNA and the DNA of a bonobo ape. We asked the public if apes could possibly outthink humans.
Believe it or not, this was a split decision. Maybe apes can outthink humans, after all. Some respondents did take this as an opportunity to joke about specific types of people, but there were plenty of serious believers. In fact, some suggested maybe other animals can outthink humans, too. Of course, it depends on the person as much as the animal. As many respondents were adamant that it's just not plausible.
Drinkers Don't Think So
Drinkers were a good 16% less likely to believe that apes can outthink humans. Interestingly enough, alcohol is one thing apes have in common with humans. Some species of monkey that have been exposed to alcohol not only enjoy the substance, but express as many attitudes toward alcohol as humans. Some just drink to relax, some become addicted, and some won't touch the stuff.
Atheists Are Convinced
In some ways, this poll is predisposed to intrigue some people, and turn others off. A major tenet of some religions, particularly western religions, is that humans were created special. On the other hand, a major tenet of science is that humans evolved directly from apes. Where you stand on that paradigm is likely to affect how you respond to the question.
Men Have No Faith in Monkeys
Men were a bit more reluctant to agree that apes could ever outthink humans, while women were a bit more willing. It could be that men have a little more pride in human achievement, or it could be that women can better see the flaws in human achievement. It's not a huge difference, though, so whatever the reason, it's of marginal value.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about apes. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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volodymyr sereda sereda 2012/06/26 16:03:17
+14*Watches as the idiotic comments flood in, especially those attacking atheists for their beliefs.*
But apes did develop and write the 3 volumes of "Principia Mathematica". Ooops, sorry. That was Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell: humans.
But apes did develop philosophical empiricism and skepticism. Ooops. sorry. That was David Hume, John Locke and George Berkeley; humans.
But apes developed the concept of ordinality and cardinality. Ooops, sorry. That was humans again. Damn.
I guess I proved my point: apes are smarter than humans. They've out-thought us all the way down the line. We humans are so dumb.
If there are any apes out there that have read this, kindly click on the reply icon and tell me what you think. Please use links and footnotes in that reply. Thanks.
(A reply for the Terry Pratchet fans out there!)
I think they must be very selfish creatures though because they won't share their vast knowledge of the universe with US.
There is not a Single live or Dead being today , on which we can see or say ... is passing through any SINGLE Phase of Evolution ?...
Can any one See Half Monkey or Half Man ?
Can anyone see Half Fish & Half Bird ?
Can anyone see A iron coin evolved to GOLD ?
from O.1 % to 50.51.52....1OO % - in between no LIVING or NON-LIVING Being is under the phase of EVOLUTION today in WORLD & can be seen OPENLY ...
" Every Creation is Perfect and no chain Links inter-connected with one an other - just like from Egg to Living - they have links connected and can be seen & ITS REALITY & Science ,
Its just a Waste of Time , and please DIS-CARD it as Science either . Religion & Atheism both are Not Science . Religion is Book of SIGNS !! - Atheism neither SCIENCE or SIGNS or neither RELIGION at all !
A man who can not see the SUN challenge to see GOD who the CREATOR of SUN . A eye which can not see Micro Organisms , want to see THE ALMIGHTY ONE GOD !
Let me laugh ... BUW AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH .
THANKS GOD I DO believe you .
" but evolution cant be justified "
You have Faith :) that we evolved from APES ..so is there any APE in-between *HALF APE HALF HUMAN " form because MILLION MILLION years already passed so ANY APE inbetween --> half human or near to full human or just got started to speak ?
WOW. You have a complete misunderstanding of evolution and what is entailed in it. No one ever claimed that people evolved FROM apes. As depicted below, one can see that there was a common ancestry, a lineage, connected to the lower ape. We evolved, unique as a species, from that lineage, but not "in line" with it. Humans branched off and developed other lineages along the way (to put it simply). There is no, and never was, a transitional species (i.e. man-ape) nor could there be one today. Over time, there were species of humans that played a role in the development of what we are today (see below) thus, in a sense transitional, but not in the way you think of it; some kind of Big-Foot creature.
http://www.globalchange.umich...
http://images.sodahead.com/pr...
Dude , the Forest Ape is still alive today but where are the ---> ? <----
its strange the Father is yet alive but we cant find its living branches today
after Million years , the root is alive but the tree is Dead .
I pray God he gave you Mind to understand , what i actually mean . it not need Brain to think but need Heart to Feel . Hope you get my Point Friend
My Friend , hope you know Newton 2nd Law of Motion dats
F = ma
As you know the " Genetic Mutation " on its own without the Force " F " is totally "Un-scientific" and if there is no force than
F = 0 so
a = o
and m = m ( after million billion trillion years )
The m = m , no matter how many Billion Billion Million Trillion years passed , the Mass will still remain THE MASS because there is no "Force" , hence No Genetic Mutation & Natural selection is faaar away to exist at that time ...
" Like a Car can not run by itself , so there is no chance of the MOLECULE at all UNTIL there is no Outside Force to do so . That 1 Force feeded all the Data which helped the Molecule need to Evolve to Today Beings including Speak , emotions , life ( which differ us from Non-living things ) ...
" Big Bang Theory is the Force , which have All the Data , THE MAIN DATA which spl...&
My Friend , hope you know Newton 2nd Law of Motion dats
F = ma
As you know the " Genetic Mutation " on its own without the Force " F " is totally "Un-scientific" and if there is no force than
F = 0 so
a = o
and m = m ( after million billion trillion years )
The m = m , no matter how many Billion Billion Million Trillion years passed , the Mass will still remain THE MASS because there is no "Force" , hence No Genetic Mutation & Natural selection is faaar away to exist at that time ...
" Like a Car can not run by itself , so there is no chance of the MOLECULE at all UNTIL there is no Outside Force to do so . That 1 Force feeded all the Data which helped the Molecule need to Evolve to Today Beings including Speak , emotions , life ( which differ us from Non-living things ) ...
" Big Bang Theory is the Force , which have All the Data , THE MAIN DATA which split up into Living & Non living things -
That Force is not generated on Its OWN "TOO" according to Newton 2nd law so its TOTALLY Un-scientific . The Force generated from Source which we in Scientific Terminology Say Allah the One GOD -
( The force is 1 , the source is 1 hence only 1 GOD )
Hope you get My Point .
In the x direction, Newton's second law tells us that F = ma = m.d2x/dt2,
This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with what you are talking about. Your F=0, a=0 and m=m makes no sense. You're trying to apply physic (in this case) to chemical reactions. Newton said that an object of mass m, accelerated at the rate a=d2x/dt2, will generate a force, F. That's all. Evolution does not require what you stated at all.
{"TOO" according to Newton 2nd law so its TOTALLY Un-scientific .}
I don't believe Newton EVER said that nor any scientist in the past or present (or future). Physics is BUILT on Newtonian mechanics.
{the Mass will still remain THE MASS because there is no "Force" , }
You're putting the cart before the horse. If there is no force (F) it is either due to either: 1) there is no mass (m) or 2) there is no acceleration (a). Mass doesn't "change" when it is accelerated (unless one is talking about E=mC**2), thus you have a complete misunderstanding of Newton's 2nd Law. Molecular biology/evolution, while under the guidance of physics, does not necessitate the Law you say is necessary.
Sorry if I'm way off topic, but you guys had a good conversation going there!
He was reaching and his analysis is more typical of the Institute for Creation Research rather than science. They postulate that the Second Law of Thermodynamics (entropy) disproves evolution. Their arguments are ridiculous. Even a high school physics student can see through it.