Human reasoning, animal instinct
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
3 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
I watched a great TV special on Yellowstone and its graphic and mesmerizing look at the various species of animals and their struggles, their hierarchal battles, their interactions with each other, their methods for attaining what they need, and how their instincts for survival during just one year of seasonal changes affects each and every species. It got me to thinking.
As I view our world of the human species right now, it occurs to me that we are doing very little to take advantage of the most profound and important asset we humans have over the so-called animal species, and that is our ability to reason, to think logically, to think “out of the box,” to plan our futures, to decide our actions by considering consequences rather than by instinct alone, and to have relationships between individuals and groups built upon trust, love, mutual respect, and living in a peaceful environment.
In this TV special on Yellowstone, I saw the raw animal reactions to different looking species. I saw vicious actions in territorial disputes. I saw battles to the death over sexual matters. I saw gruesome visuals surrounding food sources. And I even saw abhorrent behaviors, associated with relationships, within a certain species.
How far have we, as humans, advanced beyond the “so-called animal species?” Look around. What do we see? Have we taken advantage of the most profound and important asset we humans have over the so-called animal species that have to do with our minds, our thoughts, our decisions, and our actions? Are we doing any better as the years go by? If not, why not?
Anyway, this struck me as a most interesting topic.
Bob McClellan
Polson
