Differences between humans and (other) animals and ethical consequences

By Georges Chapouthier

Abstract

Are human beings like any other animals? This is the question Georges Chapouthier answers by showing the thin limits between animality and humanity. Chapouthier starts his lecture by summarizing the human point of view on animals throughout history, and then recalls the similarities between human beings and animals, culture-wise and intelligence-wise. To prove his point, he gives numerous examples of elephants, monkeys, dolphins and birds that demonstrate their culture and intelligence. Chapouthier ends his presentation by listing the characteristics that make human beings different from animals among which are the concept of duration, the use of imagination, and the importance of neoteny.

Summary

00:00:10 – Introduction

00:03:25 – 1. The biological “nature” of human beings
00:03:30 – 1.1. Humans and animals in civilization
00:04:03 – 1.1.1. Animals as human beings
00:11:00 – 1.1.2. Animals as objects
00:15:50 – 1.1.3. Animals as sentient beings
00:18:20 – 1.2. Human beings as “nature”

00:19:40 – 2. Similarities in culture and intelligence between human beings and animals
00:20:26 – 2.1. Do animals have culture?
00:21:50 – 2.1.1. Tools
00:25:50 – 2.1.2. Rules
00:30:10 – 2.1.3. Communication and language
00:37:50 – 2.1.4. Ethics
00:40:10 – 2.1.5. Aesthetical choices
00:43:10 – 2.1.6. Memory and memories
00:49:10 – 2.1.7. Consciousness
00:52:15 – 2.2. Conclusions on the position of human beings

00:52:50 – 3. The specificities of human beings
00:56:01 – 3.1. Existential experience of duration
00:56:49 – 3.2. Realm of imagination
00:58:00 – 3.3. Importance of neoteny
01:00:05 – 3.4. Quantity or quality of human specificities?
01:01:28 – 3.5. Continuity or discontinuity between human beings and animals?
01:02:07 – 3.6. Moral consequences

01:03:45 – 3.6. Conclusion