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.*
My friend . at that time in the sands of Desert your heart also knows there was No technology or instruments ...
Rest of the Matter is on ur heart - Weather you believe the 1 God of Abraham,Moses,Jesus & Mohammed .
The message is Clear . Thanks for understanding My Friend
The branches to the left and right are linear and there is no great divergence until about 2M years ago in differences between different types of apes and chimps.
The other question marks for the human evolutionary phase indicate extinction.
Australopiths died out, as indicated in its unclosed branch, as well as Homo Habilis - extinction. Then, Homo Sapiens branched out to Neanderthal and Modern Man. Neanderthal became extinct. We are what remains. The question marks are meaningless. They indicate nothing. No man-ape to be found.
The top of the chart indicates those that survived. Others dropped out of the race to the top.
Why have you got modern humans and Homo sapiens as separate species? modern humans ARE Homo sapiens.
Modern Apes (by which I assume you mean the Great Apes, of which we are one by the way, but thats a different discussion) are still around today because both they and we are evolved from the same original species. We have evolved separately as we fill different niches in Nature.
Therefore the other Great Apes are our cousins, not our ancestors so finding a direct link between them can't easily be done any more than you can find a direct link halfway between you and and your cousins without going to your predecessors.
There are no Australopiths living today because they have gone extinct. Like over 99.9% of all species that have lived on Earth have gone extinct. A species goes extinct when it is no longer adapted to its environment. This can be due to a change in the atmosphere, the introduction of a new predator or rival, the loss of a prey species, disease, a change to the climate or loss of habitat. Considering the earlist Australopithicus we've found is over 3 million years old, that's a lot of time for these changes to occur and render the species extinct. Considering that the long a species is around, its chances of survival fall steadily towards less...
Why have you got modern humans and Homo sapiens as separate species? modern humans ARE Homo sapiens.
Modern Apes (by which I assume you mean the Great Apes, of which we are one by the way, but thats a different discussion) are still around today because both they and we are evolved from the same original species. We have evolved separately as we fill different niches in Nature.
Therefore the other Great Apes are our cousins, not our ancestors so finding a direct link between them can't easily be done any more than you can find a direct link halfway between you and and your cousins without going to your predecessors.
There are no Australopiths living today because they have gone extinct. Like over 99.9% of all species that have lived on Earth have gone extinct. A species goes extinct when it is no longer adapted to its environment. This can be due to a change in the atmosphere, the introduction of a new predator or rival, the loss of a prey species, disease, a change to the climate or loss of habitat. Considering the earlist Australopithicus we've found is over 3 million years old, that's a lot of time for these changes to occur and render the species extinct. Considering that the long a species is around, its chances of survival fall steadily towards less than 0.1%, it's far from certain even modern humans will escape this fate.
Becoz? Surely the use of words like that should've given the game away that this is hardly a serious scientific article.
And a billion billion billion years? That would be an Octillion I think, so 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000... years? Considering the Universe is only about 14 billion (14,000,000,000) years old and the Earth a mere youngester at 4.54 billion (4,540,000,000) years old, how does the maths work out?
And finally, here's something random to wrap your head around, DNA investigation has shown that Homo neanderthalensis, Homo denisovan and Homo heidelbergensis have all interbred with modern humans (Homo sapiens), so chances are you have the DNA of at least one, if not more, of these earlier human species inside every one of your cells (except red blood cells, obviously!). Just thought I'd mention it.
[HMSajdah 41:5] And they say, “Our hearts are covered against the affair you call us to, and there is deafness in our ears, and there is a barrier between us and you - therefore mind your own business, we are minding ours.”
[Zukhruf 43:40] So will you make the deaf listen or show the path to the blind, and to those who are in open error?
[Aa`raf 7:179] And indeed We have created many jinns and men for hell; they have hearts in which there is no understanding; and the eyes they do not see with; and the ears they do not hear with; they are like cattle - in fact more astray; it is they who are the neglectful.
2 Thessalonians 1
11 Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false,
12 so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
So, what your saying is that is not my fault. In fact, it is impossible to be my fault for what I believe. If Allah (God) whether through Islam, Judaism or Christianity CAUSES us to believe something which is untrue, then who can stand against Him. Not my will but His. I don't get it.
It starts off with, "I think I get your point."
Thanks.
Congratulations brah, you can copy and paste Quran verses
Cynical humor, if you will.
"Atheists Think Apes Can Potentially Out-think Humans" - that sounds more reasonable.
To the apparition of men over earth, that's point two.
Finally we have to accept two things, One is that there are aspects and phenomenons in our universe that we cannot scientifically explain, and we call them miracles. Maybe some day we can, as we did with so other things but nowadays it's that simple, so if some people is happier thinking that his life and existence has a true mining and purpose, let them be happy. So if other people rather prefer to believe that life is meaningless and we are only an accident, lucky, very lucky indeed, accident in this whole process that we call evolution, well let them be happy too. In my humble opinion the two points of view have an ingenuity point, but the two of them requires a simple but powerful thing: FAITH; rather in god or in probabilities.
As number two, I believe that this whole discussion its pointless because after 4500 million years, after a global extinction, after billions of years of evolution, we humans remain for over almost 5000 years as the only an single consciousness species in the planet. If evolution is random why suddenly that far a mutation takes effect and never repeated? That is the real fact. If intelligence and conscience are merely the result of mutation why no other ape species or cats or dogs never reached that level of evolution? And that my friends is point three.
A catholic believer and humble man of science
I think this just shows people are stupid enough to believe anything...as long as you stick the hash tag "science" behind it lol.
Animals are far more intelligent than any human gives them credit for - that is the failing of humans, that they haven't learned exactly how intelligent many animals are. Just because they do not function with their environment as we do does not mean they are "dumb animals". Can =/= Do. You understand that, don't you?
Science has kept your ass alive and healthy on this planet, and given you the creature comforts you laud as a sign of intelligence today. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Oh btw....they're still stupid animals. Get over it.
Besides nowadays Catholics have no problem accepting evolution as a fact, but we also propose that this evolutionary process is a guided process we call it intelligent design. That means that evolution it's not a blind rather random process, instead we think that is guided to deliver us to reach our best potential and als
Do u forget the Nation of Thamud , Lot & Noah . What happened to them in which GOD saying in Bible & Quran & Torah 1000 years before and we came to know NOW with the help of SCIENCE ,
Dont think that People are not Following GOD . but its the GOD who discard people to be his Followers ( due to there GRIEVOUS SINS) .... People today throw there scriptures at there back , become worse than animals , gays lesbians , homosexuals that GOD curse there hearts - and "the Curse is Evolution" ...& in the End --> Hell is prepare for every TRANSGRESSOR . & REJECTOR of 1 GOD - not 3 but - just 1 GOD