[Taxacom] when is a common species critically endangered?

[Frederick W. Schueler]

On 6/28/2012 3:50 AM, Paul van Rijckevorsel wrote:
> From: "Zack Murrell"<murrellze at appstate.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 2:21 AM
> [...]
>
>> By the way, one definition of human from the Online Etymology Dictionary
>> is "humane, philanthropic, kind, gentle, polite; learned, refined,
>> civilized".  This definition doesn't seem to fit very well with any
>> current description of Homo sapiens Linnaeus.
>
> ***
> Yes, there are (at least) two definitions of "human", the above is the
> nineteenth Century (pre-WW I) definition: "human" as different from
> "animal", by the ability to think and the use of that ability to make
> informed decisions. Human = reasoning, cultured, etc.

* or you can go with Val Geist, and define "human characteristics" (his 
"human health") as the apomorphies that distinguish us from the other 
Great Apes - language, music, food sharing, extended social networks, 
technology, scholarship, and giving names to the other species of creatures.

fred.
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> Much more common these days is the definition of "human" as
> "recognizably Homo sapiens". Human characteristics are having
> two eyes, a nose, a personality, etc. Being shouted at by your
> boss and then going home to kick the dog is "human". Most
> "human" caracteristics are those of the higher mammals (and birds)
> and thus cats and dogs are accepted as having many human traits.
> The ability to think is as likely to be used to rationalize actions not
> based on informed decisions. In short, the human being is not
> distinct from animals but is the standard by which to measure
> other animals. Creepy crawlies fail the "human test" and are yeech,
> while a seal pup is cute.
>
> Obviously these two definitions are mutually exclusive, and it
> is important to keep in mind which definition is being used.
>
> Paul
>
>
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           Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
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