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[Further comment on the distinction between humans and animals]
Nauchnye Doklady Vysshei Shkoly. Biologicheskie Nauki
|January 1, 1988
Summary
The human mind and consciousness are unique social properties. These emerged during human evolution (anthropogenesis), distinct from animal biological prerequisites.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anthropology
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- The distinction between human and animal minds is a long-standing scientific and philosophical challenge.
- Existing terminology like "rudiments" or "biological prerequisites" for human traits in animals is often conflated, leading to conceptual ambiguity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze the confusion surrounding terms used to describe human-specific properties in animals.
- To propose a framework for understanding the emergence of the human mind and consciousness.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of scientific terminology.
- Conceptual critique of existing theories on human-animal cognitive differences.
- Examination of the evolutionary process of anthropogenesis.
Main Results:
- Identified critical confusion in the scientific and philosophical literature regarding "rudiments" and "biological prerequisites" of human traits in animals.
- Demonstrated that uniquely human properties, such as mind and conscience, are social in nature.
Conclusions:
- The emergence of mind and conscience as social properties is intrinsically linked to the process of anthropogenesis.
- A clear distinction must be maintained between biological prerequisites and the actual rudiments of social properties in evolutionary contexts.