momosa
Bronze Member
Posts: 29
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Post by momosa on Sept 14, 2023 14:41:35 GMT
Is the meaning of life the same for animals and humans?
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Post by sophiamiller on Sept 26, 2023 18:53:09 GMT
This comment addresses behavior across all animal species. It considers what we can learn about behavior when we do not limit our study to just humans. Studying nonhuman animal behaviors is something that often can be done in much more strict, objective ways than studying human behaviors. We can study nonhuman animals for longer periods of time without objection and can be much more rigid in choosing where and when we study the behaviors. Given that we can be much more scientific in how we study nonhuman animals, it is worth considering how much we can learn about behavior, regardless of what species we are considering, from that sort of study.
Studying nonhuman animal behavior to determine how it applies to all behaviors, including human behaviors, warrants asking about purpose. If we are asking what all behaviors have in common, then it is also useful to ask if all these behaviors have the same purpose. Questioning the purpose of behaviors then leads to deeper questions about the meaning of why we do anything at all. All animals sleep, wake up, and then start doing things. They then go to sleep and start the whole process over again. What all animals do during the day follows similar rules — these are the rules that govern behavior, and it is worth looking at whether they are all done for similar purposes.
“Why are we here?” “What is the meaning of life?” These are questions that are unique to human beings. Other animal species do not ask questions like these. But not asking the questions does not mean that other animals do not have meaning or purpose. And it does not mean that their behaviors are meaningless. It just means that the questions themselves about purpose and meaning may be unnecessary. Asking questions about meaning does not increase the actual meaning that exists. Being able to answer the question in complex ways does not actually mean that the answer has to be that complex. It may just be that the individual has decided that a more straightforward and direct answer can never do and that the answer has to be complex.
When we look at human behaviors and nonhuman behaviors, it all clearly has a purpose. Humans behave in certain ways for a variety of reasons. Nonhumans also behave in certain ways for a variety of reasons. Even though the ultimate meaning of these behaviors may differ, what does not differ is that the behaviors do have some meaning. There is purpose and meaning to the behaviors of all species, and that purpose and meaning are there even if the species cannot explain, or even question, what they are. Looking at behaviors across all animal species can be tricky because behaviors across species are often so different. What behaviors are exhibited can vary so much that it can be very difficult to see what they have in common. Identifying the commonalities can be very important, even if it is difficult, for understanding what we mean by behaviors.
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