A thread not dedicated to some religion! OMG THE SKY IS FALLING!
sorry...had to do that.
Animals work with their environment, humans mostly use up all of the resources, pollute, contaminate and destroy it.
Actually many species of animals fight amongst themselves. A pack of wolves for instance cannot abide another pack of wolves being in their territory. And while animals cannot pollute their environment to the extent of human beings they still do so on a much smaller scale. Example being migrating types of animals that will use up the resources in any given area that they are in and then will move to the next area. In doing so they use up not only the available resources but by using up those resources they are creating their own form of pollution.
...could be considered culture depending on how you want to define that word.
In order to make this argument work you actually have to put in the caveat of "depending on how you want to define that word". That shows that your argument is shaky and is entirely dependent on how "culture" is defined. Which apparently for you is able to be changed to suit the situation/need.
Animals cannot create beauty/art/music. Rebuttal: we see many examples of great artists such as the intricate patterns created by spider webs, certain marine animals who can create beautiful patterns in the sand to attract mates and the amazing colorful patterns creatures such as a peacock can display. As far as music goes you simply can observe the beautiful songs so many birds can produce as evidence for animals' musical abilities.
The intricate patterns created by spiders in their webs has nothing to do with art but has to do with the best way for their situation to create a trap for the things that they feed on. Art has nothing to do with survival and everything to do with aesthetics. The colorful patterns on a peacock also has absolutely nothing to do with art, it has to do with evolution and gene's and evolutions way of attracting mates to perpetuate a species. A peacock cannot change the colors that they are born with. The same goes with birds and their "songs". A bird can no more make its own rap music than can an elephant seal.
Animals are not conscious. ....
What constitutes consciousness and what doesn't is a matter of subjective opinion and is not able to be measured at all in animals, much less humans. The only form of measurement that man has even come close to defining consciousness is with the words "I think, therefore I am". No animal can do that as far as I know.
Human beings are better at surviving. Rebuttal: Many species such as insects can adapt to endure even the most catastrophic of environments much more easily than humans can.
Can insects survive in extreme or catastrophic environments that humans couldn't? Yep. There is bacteria that has been documented to survive months in space with no protections what so ever. Does this make them superior to humans? Nope. Just means that evolution made them hardier than humans. However humans can adapt an environment to suit their needs. No animal can do this.
Animals cannot communicate efficiently. Rebuttal: The human language is linear, purely symbolic, and mostly utilitarian. ...
Actually the human language is far more complex than any animals. Animals usually only have one, maybe two ways of communicating at best. However humans have multiple ways of communicating. Our language does not only include "clunky words". We also communicate by smell and sight. With sight and smell we detect what another person is feeling. IE: Anger, sorrow, lust, ready to mate, etc etc. (did you know that a woman pole dancer will receive more and bigger tips when they are menstruating than those that are not?) We use our hands as a form of communication also, and in more ways than just using sign language. By using our hands we are able to add emphasis to what we are communicating.
Animals have no sense of humor. Rebuttal: How do we know this?....
Actually this form of "play" is actually their way of learning how to fight or defend themselves. Has nothing to do with play.
Any other counterpoints for humans being superior to animals I would love to hear them. Thanks!
Show me one animal that can make a rocket and go out into space.
PS: had to shorten your quotes in order to meet 5k character limit.
