Would you rather be an animal or a human?

[Dewitback]

Humans have complex lives. lots of people believe life is meaningless, that there is no purpose to life. there is a lot of hurt in life, lots of let downs. so my question is would you give up your higher consciousness to become a simple animal, who doesn't question life? Where you are based on only instinct? (this question is esp for those who see no believe there is no purpose in life.)

[ExoByte]

Humans are animals. But in a serious answer, no. Ignorance is bliss, and I'm sure I wouldn't care about all this crap if I was a lesser consciousness. But as it stands now, I'm not. And so I would not willingly condemn myself to a lesser mind if I had the choice and knew that I was going to do it.

[Merlock]

Humans are animals. Then go live in a pack in the middle of the woods, ignorant of higher morals, ideals and principles that we, as self-aware, conscious and moral beings have developed over centuries...go on! *hmph*

[Mes Tarrant]

Humans are animals. Precisely. Anyway, I've thought about this question before... like, would I rather be a squirrel or something than a human.. and I've finally figured out that no, I would not change my current existence for anything. Animals other than humans have it MUCH tougher than most of us naively believe.

[ExoByte]

Then go live in a pack in the middle of the woods, ignorant of higher morals, ideals and principles that we, as self-aware, conscious and moral beings have developed over centuries...go on! *hmph* I didn't say that we didn't have any morals or values. I said we're animals. We're sacks of meat with bodily systems, working in an ecosystem just like other animals. As living creatures, just like other living creatures, we need to breathe and eat, we have lungs, hearts, digestive systems and brains. We're animals, complex animals capable of complex thought, capable of powerful emotion and capable of creating strong concepts such as morals, values, ideas, systems, and principles. But that doesn't make us any less physically animal then any other creature on this planet.

[Dewitback]

Anyway, I've thought about this question before... like, would I rather be a squirrel or something than a human.. and I've finally figured out that no, I would not change my current existence for anything. Animals other than humans have it MUCH tougher than most of us naively believe. Interesting point about animals having it much harder. what would you say are some hardships of animals? besides being eaten by one another and by yours truly?

[Mes Tarrant]

Interesting point about animals having it much harder. what would you say are some hardships of animals? besides being eaten by one another and by yours truly? Well, like you touched upon, animals have to hunt for their own food. Animals have to fear predators. Animals are pretty much screwed if they get a chipped tooth or broken foot, etc. Animals have a much higher infant mortality rate. I think worrying about whatever it is that we humans worry about is much easier than worrying about the fundamentals of survival. There are no doctors for them to turn to, no one to build them a house, no friendly neighbors, etc.

[Taosaur]

If I have to live again, I would be a tree.

[Zera]

I'd much rather be a dream character.

[NonDualistic]

I didn't say that we didn't have any morals or values. I said we're animals. We're sacks of meat with bodily systems, working in an ecosystem just like other animals. As living creatures, just like other living creatures, we need to breathe and eat, we have lungs, hearts, digestive systems and brains. We're animals, complex animals capable of complex thought, capable of powerful emotion and capable of creating strong concepts such as morals, values, ideas, systems, and principles. But that doesn't make us any less physically animal then any other creature on this planet. How one chooses to see themselves works greatly in the reality of their self perception, and realizing that potential that lies within. If you or any other wishes to see themselves as an animal, or a human body, then go right ahead and realize and live that limited potential . However, one cannot force that limitation upon another who has power over their own realization of said potential. While you may see yourself as human, an animal body, I see myself as unbound by a physical body. Such is merely something, or some persepctive, from which to have experiences in the physical world. I am "in this body" but I am not "of this body".

[Half/Dreaming]

There is a fundamental balance that all life deals with. You know, pain and joy etc. Since humans have less physical problems to deal with, as Mes pointed out, I believe humanity naturally creates problems for itslef to keep life in balance. I don't believe we are meant to live without conflict. I believe world peace is fundamentally impossible. My point is that we are just like animals, in terms of our total joy compared to total pain. Think about it! Why is it that movie stars have so many damn problems?

[ExoByte]

How one chooses to see themselves works greatly in the reality of their self perception, and realizing that potential that lies within. If you or any other wishes to see themselves as an animal, or a human body, then go right ahead and realize and live that limited potential . However, one cannot force that limitation upon another who has power over their own realization of said potential. While you may see yourself as human, an animal body, I see myself as unbound by a physical body. Such is merely something, or some persepctive, from which to have experiences in the physical world. I am "in this body" but I am not "of this body". I don't disagree. But as long as we're "in this body" we're animals, because this is the body of an animal. If you're right and we break those shackles, then things change then and only then. As long as we're in a sack of meat, we are a sack of meat.

[NonDualistic]

If you're right and we break those shackles, then things change then and only then. As long as we're in a sack of meat, we are a sack of meat. This is the dwelling place of an interesting point. If the direction of our thinking guides the manifestation of the physical circumstances surrounding us, then it is of paramount importance that we watch carefully in what direction our thinking travels. Case in point, if we think ourselves a sack of meat then that is where the circumstances will continue to manifest. Likewise, if the thinking shifts towards being unbound by the flesh, then changes would beginto manifest around us. What other purpose is there for spiritual teachings if none other than to shift thinking? And as to the original topic herein, certainly such teachings are not directed towards "animals" that are not eveolved enough to comprehend them? Such thinking of becoming a lower animal form would be regression on the evolutionary scale of consciousness and perception.

[really]

I'm with non-dualistic here. We've evolved from animals, but we are now humans. Humans are the species of the 21st century. To go back and think, be and act like an animal (I.e. dog, bird, cat) is old-fashioned. Our intelligence is what astounds us all today. Of course, hypothetically if you'd like to re-incarnate or something, be whatever you want; I'd still prefer human - only because I think we're the only species that can think big thoughts and embrace marvelous physical and spiritual possibilities.

[ExoByte]

Humans can still be an animal. Who says an animal can't be intelligent? The one thing with the human species is that we've got this collective mindset that we're better than everything and everyone else. Now everyone thinks to be called an "animal" is something to be ashamed of. Its not as if we're not intelligent, but we do still have primal, animal instincts like every other animal. We're still the same as any animal, we have skin, noses, eyes, ears, mouths, teeth, bones, brains, we all have sexual organs and all need to eat, breathe and sleep and satisfy sexual urges. We, like every other animal, try to keep our species going. We're animals, we're intelligent, critical thinking animals capable of communication, but our bodies are physically that of animals. We're a type of primate. Any creature is capable of evolution, and we'll continue to evolve until our species is finally destroyed somehow. We'll always get better, and just as we look on our predecessor species now and call them animals, our species in the future will look back on us and call us the same.

[StephenT]

I heard that a Pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes. So I would like to be a pig.

[ExoByte]

Actually. 8 Hours.

[StephenT]

Actually. 8 Hours. With that, I'll try to find a way to modify my genes to be part pig with the hope that that will happen to me.

[really]

Humans can still be an animal. Who says an animal can't be intelligent? The one thing with the human species is that we've got this collective mindset that we're better than everything and everyone else. Now everyone thinks to be called an "animal" is something to be ashamed of. Its not as if we're not intelligent, but we do still have primal, animal instincts like every other animal. We're still the same as any animal, we have skin, noses, eyes, ears, mouths, teeth, bones, brains, we all have sexual organs and all need to eat, breathe and sleep and satisfy sexual urges. We, like every other animal, try to keep our species going. We're animals, we're intelligent, critical thinking animals capable of communication, but our bodies are physically that of animals. We're a type of primate. Any creature is capable of evolution, and we'll continue to evolve until our species is finally destroyed somehow. We'll always get better, and just as we look on our predecessor species now and call them animals, our species in the future will look back on us and call us the same. Yes true, but there is still a significant difference which is why we're called "human" in preference to "animal". I don't think this thread's intent was to talk of this technicality of humans and animals being basically the same thing. We're simply just talking about creatures other than humans. With that, I'll try to find a way to modify my genes to be part pig with the hope that that will happen to me. Or you could check out Tantra, I think it's called; tantric sex, about an hour... or something significantly great...

[dragonoverlord]

Yes i'd rather be either a cat/wolf or a Kangaroo....Life would be so much simpler that way.

[Dewitback]

same here, Ignorance is bliss, and I think the life of an animal could be so much simple. I would probably want to be a dolphin! wow, thats really gay, but true! "imma dolphin! look at meee~"

[really]

I wonder if any animals question something, as life and existence. If not their lives must seem so automatic, simple. I wonder about animal's or insect's sense of time, and how long everything seems to "last" with them.

[wasup]

for anyone interested check out the short essay "the abstractions of beasts" by Carl Sagan. A very intersting read!

[Dewitback]

I wonder if any animals question something, as life and existence. If not their lives must seem so automatic, simple. I wonder about animal's or insect's sense of time, and how long everything seems to "last" with them. I love this! I always wonder if my Dog acutally could think, "why am I a dog?" and question his existance. but I guess his life is an eternal dream in which he can't become lucid. i really believe that animals have degrees of consciousness, but, i don't think they can question thier existance.

[thegnome54]

This whole "we aren't animals" thing is really pathetic. Dolphins, apes, and even parrots are extremely intelligent beings, and there is no shame in being a part of the group. If we're not animals, what the hell are we? Minerals? I'm quite happy as a human, although I'm biased, since I already am one... but if I had to be another animal, I would probably either be a parrot or a dolphin. Both are intelligent enough to truly understand and appreciate life. Unless you mean "Would you rather be a human or another animal with a human brain", which is an entirely different question.