This week’s theme is “Tracing our roots”, so I want to talk about our ancestors. The ancestors were not human beings, but the apes that human beings evolved from.
You may wonder why did apes evolve into human beings and then dominate the world, but not other kinds of creatures. There are reasons due to circumstances, but they are only some incidental reasons. The main reason is that apes had hands and better brains than other kinds of creatures.
With their better brains, apes learned to use languages, which helped them to communicate and cooperate with each other. With better brains, apes learned to take advantage of the circumstances, thus, they could find more food and protect themselves. And with better brains, apes learned to use fire and tools which helped them survive their natural enemies as well as compete with their competitors.
Apart from their better brains, apes’ hands also helped them a lot. The most absolute distinction between apes and other creatures is that apes’ hands were more nimble than other creatures’. The five fingers of a hand could move easily and did all kinds of gestures. Thus, apes could make many things that could not be taken from the circumstances directly. With their hands, apes could bring what they imagine into reality and became the strong in the nature.
this is an interesting question to explore and you give convicing answer about it.i like the last paragragh where you make an assumption to stress the importance of brains and hands, and it is very impressive.
ReplyDeleteit's an attractive topic, but through your blog i read more about apes. more about how apes are a more revolved creature, i think maybe it's not quite to the point regarding your topic
ReplyDeleteIndeed hands and the brain are crucial to humans.And you remind me of Darwin's natural selection. Perhaps it is nature that choose humans to be the ruler rather humans want to be so. In other words, we don't really dominate the world but are just one important part of it. As nature can choose us to be the ruler, it can destroy us, too. So we humans should be humble and grateful.
ReplyDeletehuman being evolved so much to what we are like, most important one of the reasons ,i think , is still that we are good at changing ourselves to adapt to the environment. of course all of these are based on our brilliant and creative brain. however, i reckon that we are not the dominator of the world , we rely on the world for living.
ReplyDeleteYes, brains and hands helps apes dominate the earth a lot. I think the most important thing brains contribute is not the ability to use fire and tools or the knowledge of taking advantage of the nature but a better communication with others. Communication make teaching and cooperation more efficient thus make human superior.
ReplyDeleteIf there is another thing which contributes to human beings' dominating the world most, I think it is human language. Language make our ancestors share their thoughts so that their brightness go from one to another and that they could make progress. Every kind of animal had their own language, but none of their language is as great as humans'. We have never they there is a calm conversation between two animals. Instead, they could only make some sound to express their feelings or to send a massage of danger. Thus, they could not teach others their knowledge, and the knowledge could never get improvement by others. I do not understand how apes' "language" become the humans' language, but I consider it as a miracle.
ReplyDeleteI feel so lucky after reading your blog...dolphins have strong brains and the ability of swimming but the evolution never comes to them. I regard this blog as a great science brief introduction, well done!
ReplyDeleteAfer reading your blog, I knowned quite a lot of things about the apes. Actually, I do not think that human beings are evolved by apes. But I have to admit that human beings are really smart that we can solve nearly every thing they meet and with the developing of science and technology, I think we can contribute more to our socienties.
ReplyDeleteExactly. The main difference between animals and human beings is the ability of using tools. And that makes our brains and hands vital. Whatever, there are things more important than muscle.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that with superior brain and a pair of dexterous hands, apes are more succesfful than many other mammals. But are apes our ancestors? Does it follow that because humans have brains and hands therefore we are descendants of apes? Why are apes blessed with brains and hands?
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your opinion. No creatures, whether the human or the alien, should domain the world because they cannot. There are forever laws of nature ruling the world, no one can change them what we can do is to make use of the forever laws and lead a better life.
ReplyDelete