Introduction
Humans are truly unique animals, and this notion has been explored in various ways, primarily in religious texts and philosophical literature. The Bible has its account of humans, and as if that is not enough, multiple thinkers, such as Aristotle and Descartes, have formed their opinions, proving why humans are unique creatures. Thus, humans are unique and distinct from other living things, as described in the Bible, and they possess rational souls and spirits, as posited by Aristotle and Descartes, respectively.
Evidence of Human Uniqueness
Genesis in the Hebrew Bible
In the story of Genesis, humans are considered distinct from other life forms because they are the only creatures created in the image and likeness of God. In particular, “Let us make man in our image…let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and the cattle…” Pilant (1997, p. 1:26). The quote denotes a special relationship between humans and God, which is not shared by other life forms. Furthermore, humans can reason, communicate, and make moral decisions, which other life forms do not possess.
Aristotle’s Writings
Aristotle viewed humans as distinct from other life forms, arguing that humans possess a rational soul not found in any other living thing. Moreover, Aristotle believed that humans naturally desire knowledge that other life forms do not include (Aristotle, 1991).
Descartes’s Writings
Rene Descartes contended that while humans are similar to plants and animals in some ways, they are ultimately distinct. Descartes suggested that human beings possess a spiritual soul, which distinguishes them from other forms of life (Descartes, 2007). He contended that this soul enables humans to think and reason abstractly, whereas animals and plants lack this capability. Humans can use language and engage in complex social interactions, which plants and animals are incapable of doing (Descartes, 2007). Descartes concluded that human beings are remarkable in that they can reflect upon their existence and contemplate the meaning of life.
Conclusion
Lastly, humans are different from other living beings, as argued in the Bible and by past thinkers such as Aristotle and Descartes. In Genesis, humans have a special relationship with God, as they were created in His image and likeness. Moreover, according to Aristotle, humans possess a rational soul, and according to Descartes, the soul enables humans to act and think differently from other living beings.
References
Aristotle. (1991). History of Animals (J. Barnes, Ed.; 2nd ed.). Princeton University Press.
Descartes, R. (2007). From the letters of 1646 and 1649. In L. Kalof & A. Fitzgerald (Eds.), The Animal Reader: The Essential Classic and Contemporary Writings (pp. 59–62). Berg Publishers.
Pilant, B. (1997). The Book of Bereishit (Genesis): Chapter 1. Jewish Virtual Library Anything You Need to Know from Anti-Semitism to Zionism; Portions copyright. Web.