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Do you agree with the statement that humans are just another twig in the tree of life? This from a humanist scientist speaking on biology and evolution. [newhumanist.org.uk]

ToolGuy 9 May 20
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22 comments

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4

Humans are the Monsanto of the tree of life.

and right now we have an agent orange in the WH.

@callmedubious that’s a rather toxic comment. 😎

@callmedubious agree completely!!

4

Yep.
Humans are not any more or less "special" than any other life form.
We're just FAR more arrogant about the importance of our existence.

3

IMO the tree model is a poor one to use when speaking of the procession of life. Life is more like a rope, with each fiber of the rope representing the lifetime of a single organism. I agree that we are not at the pinnacle of evolutionβ€”we are just somewhere along the rope. A single fiber or a single body is of little significance.

To identify with the entire rope is a great leap forward.I am not an individual bodyβ€”I am the rope from beginning to end. I doubt very seriously if conscious awareness arose somewhere along the rope through random mutations and natural selection. My feeling is that conscious awareness is an inherent quality of the rope itself and of underlying reality. Interesting that no mention is made in the article of epigenetics. By sweeping epigenetics under the carpet, perhaps we avoid scary challenges to our world views.

@LetzGetReal Great article, and very helpful!

The last part is intriguing. Who is the director who is making those decisions? Hmm...

3

It's the web of life. Everytime a species disappears it weakens the web. We regard ourselves as special. We are not.

2

Thank you for this. I wonder if this group has a connection with the Humanist in this country.

Do I agree, absolutely, for sure, unquestioningly and without reservation. It is so obvious to anyone who has even a bit of knowledge. I am surprised the British support the church as they do. I wonder if that applies to all the other religious sects in the country.

2

A overzealous twig that is trying to pull down the whole tree mabey.

MsAl Level 8 May 20, 2019
2

Diseased twig.

2

Yes i agree.. we are evolving to become life's finest creation .. if stupidity doesn't take us to extinction first.. we as life contagion the basic root to our existence..

Neenz Level 7 May 20, 2019
2

We are a twig, and an especially dangerous one. Life, as in the earth and all of the living things that inhabit it, would be much better off without us humans.

2

We're not special anymore than a little squirrel is

2

I do agree as far as the tree of life is concerned, but humans are special and unique as far as humanity is concerned.

@LetzGetReal I agree about the animal treatment, but to me, it is infinitely more madding to see how people treat people.

1

4 billion years. Wees bees barely a bud.

1

All animals, fish, etc, etc, living today and that have lived in the millions of years before are just mere twigs on the branches of the Tree of Evolution.
All life began as single celled organisms in the Primordial Seas and slowly, but surely, evolved over periods of time just a tiny seed that looks nothing remotely like a tree eventually will grow to become a tree after years of struggle and adaption to the climate, if needed, Homo Sapiens, us, did the same but we are NOT and never will the 'Pinnacle of Evolution,' despite what we'd like to believe, evolution will continue on and on adding newer branches and twigs to the 'tree' as it wishes and as it always has done.

1

"Twig" as in "on the ground?"

No, twig as in being not much more that a very small branch or shoot.

@Triphid 4 billion years. Wees bees barely a bud.

1

Duh?

1

I agree, I'm also saddened to say we have introduced many diseases and inappropriate organisms that may very likely kill the tree.

1

pretty sure the word tree in the phrase tree of life gives a hint that there are other forms of life.

lerlo Level 8 May 20, 2019
1

It seems to be one reasoned way of interpreting life.

1

Hans Gruber: Who are you then?
John McClane: Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass.

The burr in the butt fur!

The turd in the punch bowl.

0

If you are referring to Phylogeny and Evolution, yes.

0

Agree

bobwjr Level 10 May 20, 2019
0

I prefer branch, but twig works also.

I think the Branch would be Primates, and each different species thereof are the Twigs. At least, That's what makes sense to me.

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