# Human beings are the most selfish animals on Earth. Every action we do benefits us, and us only. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 17, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768 "2009-08-17T19:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sometimes_Sober_Sometimes_Not)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/1 "2009-08-17T19:28:25Z")
To argue over abortion or global warming is really a joke in the long run. Man was put on Earth to destroy it. Not to preserve it. Human beings are the most selfish conceded animals in the animal kingdom. Human beings even have to separate themselves from the animal kingdom even. Humans can’t even admit they have bodily functions for example. To kill another human like in an abortion just to get rid of it is as selfish as a human can get. But, to kill a human to punish them. Is has human as a human can get. Protecting life sometimes means killing life. The Animal Kingdom proves this everyday. If you break down the Animal Kingdom. From the time animals are born every action benefits other animals unbeknown to them. From the plants they eat and drop. To the animals that eat their bodies after they die. The list goes on. It’s why having “low intelligence” is bitter sweet. Human beings have abused their “higher intelligence” since the beginning they began thinking they were better. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/2 "2009-08-17T19:31:57Z")
So - you’re suggesting that there’s no difference in value between me, a dog, a worm or a bacteria? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/3 "2009-08-17T19:32:55Z")
> [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](#): > > To kill another human like in an abortion just to get rid of it is as selfish as a human can get. The delirium from lack of sleep is setting in so I’m not going to touch the rest of your post, but this is just plain wrong, humans are pretty much one of the only animals that even gives a shit about infanticide. If you heard some of the things other mammals (hell, just primates) in general do to their young in times of overpopulation or just because they found the offspring of another male, or because the male part of the pride was overthrown or… ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/4 "2009-08-17T19:33:51Z")
First off, humans are the ONLY people on Earth, as personhood is a legal construct invented by humans. Some might argue that chimpanzees and some species of whale are deserving of that status as well, and I’m not sure I’d argue; but that position is hardly the consensus opinion. Second, assuming that you meant to say that humans are the most selfish species on Earth, I can’t agree. We regularly do things that benefit other species–everything from feeding our pets to declaring certain endangered species off-limits for exploitation. Third, just about every animal species is selfish. They eat one another, fight one another, exploit and deceive one another. Fourth–do you have a point? ---
**Author:** ![Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sometimes_Sober_Sometimes_Not)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/5 "2009-08-17T19:39:47Z")
> [@Belrix](#): > > So - you’re suggesting that there’s no difference in value between me, a dog, a worm or a bacteria? If you break it down. Yes. To play Devil’s Advocate. Maybe “higher intelligence” in the “mutant gene” that destroys stuff on the plant, and we are either too stupid, (which would be ironic), or too narcissistic to even know it. ---
**Author:** ![Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sometimes_Sober_Sometimes_Not)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/6 "2009-08-17T19:48:52Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > First off, humans are the ONLY people on Earth, as personhood is a legal construct invented by humans. Some might argue that chimpanzees and some species of whale are deserving of that status as well, and I’m not sure I’d argue; but that position is hardly the consensus opinion. > > Second, assuming that you meant to say that humans are the most selfish species on Earth, I can’t agree. We regularly do things that benefit other species–everything from feeding our pets to declaring certain endangered species off-limits for exploitation. > > Third, just about every animal species is selfish. They eat one another, fight one another, exploit and deceive one another. > > Fourth–do you have a point? First, human beings eat other animals to survive. Just like the animals in the Animal Kingdom. And second, every aspect of human life creates pollution and waste. As soon as human beings said, “I’m moving out of the jungle”, into a “Concrete Jungle” and started manufacturing things to benefit human beings only, was when they went over the line to no return. And, do you know why we won’t go back to what we used to be like other animals? Because we think we are better off. Maybe “high intelligence” is the mutant gene? ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/7 "2009-08-17T20:11:10Z")
Just so we have a point of reference, which is it currently? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/8 "2009-08-17T20:17:08Z")
> [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](#): > > To argue over abortion or global warming is really a joke in the long run. > > Man was put on Earth to destroy it. Not to preserve it. > > Human beings are the most selfish conceded animals in the animal kingdom. > > Human beings even have to separate themselves from the animal kingdom even. > > Humans can’t even admit they have bodily functions for example. > > To kill another human like in an abortion just to get rid of it is as selfish as a human can get. But, to kill a human to punish them. Is has human as a human can get. Protecting life sometimes means killing life. The Animal Kingdom proves this everyday. > > If you break down the Animal Kingdom. From the time animals are born every action benefits other animals unbeknown to them. From the plants they eat and drop. To the animals that eat their bodies after they die. The list goes on. It’s why having “low intelligence” is bitter sweet. > > Human beings have abused their “higher intelligence” since the beginning they began thinking they were better. A few things. We were not ‘put here.’ We evolved here. There was no intent behind it; to assign intent implies a consciousness. There is no consciousness behind evolutionary imperative. Next; we are not going to ‘destroy’ the Earth. The Earth will be just fine. We are but a blip on the radar screen. We may leave some scars but really, considering everything this planet has been through, what we can do to it will barely leave a scratch. The scars will heal over quite nicely once we’re gone. Finally: Nihilism can be either a depressing weight or a freeing epiphany. It looks as though you have opted for the former. Consider the latter. It’s much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/9 "2009-08-17T20:18:34Z")
> [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](#): > > Maybe “high intelligence” is the mutant gene? You appear to be using “mutant gene” as though it’s a bad thing or an extremely rare thing. I assure you neither is the case. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/10 "2009-08-17T20:19:57Z")
Let’s assume the truth of your premise. What are we to do about it? Are you suggesting mass suicide? Or are we just to go through life feeling really bad about ourselves? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/11 "2009-08-17T20:49:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Let’s assume the truth of your premise. What are we to do about it? Are you suggesting mass suicide? Or are we just to go through life feeling really bad about ourselves? I think he’s suggesting drinking. And posting online. Personally, I’d suggest reading up on biology. The latest popular biology book I read was [Parasite Rex.](http://www.amazon.com/Parasite-Rex-Bizarre-Dangerous-Creatures/dp/074320011X) I really enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/12 "2009-08-17T20:50:31Z")
Every species comes with consequences. We just have some very obvious and well-publicized ones, because humans report human news daily. A bit of begging the question is going on. I consider myself a creature of the earth. I am not somehow in my own exclusive category of non-natural animals. I consider nuclear weapons and plastic grocery bags to be natural tools – products of a creature (humans) that evolved. Some folks might think they are ‘removed’ from nature, but the bacteria that live in your gut and which are key to your life would laugh out loud if they heard that. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/13 "2009-08-17T20:54:24Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I think he’s suggesting drinking. And posting online. Ah. Then I’m fulfilling my end of the bargain. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/14 "2009-08-17T21:45:19Z")
I just got back from my 6th visit to the vet in 7 days, all with one cat. While there’s a debate about motive and freedom and all, I still think this is a counterexample. But if you are skeptical, consider that the cat is now sitting next to me, and purring when I pet him. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/15 "2009-08-17T21:45:34Z")
> [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](#): > > To kill another human like in an abortion just to get rid of it is as selfish as a human can get. I agree, it would be much less unselfish to eat the actual babies to get rid of them, like mice do. At least, unselfish on the babies’ part, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/16 "2009-08-17T21:46:21Z")
> [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](#): > > Maybe “high intelligence” is the mutant gene? No; that’s the heat ray vision. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/17 "2009-08-17T23:00:53Z")
This is funny 'cause last night on PBS there was a nature show about baboons. One of the males takes over the baboon troop and then starts to kill all the little baboons fathered by the former “king” of the troop. He does this 'cause if a mother is nursing her baby baboon she won’t come into heat. Pelicans have 2 or 3 children and let the babies fight it out till one kills off the other two. This is not uncommon and helps. If a preditor is stalking the nest he only takes the one the other babies have killed. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/18 "2009-08-17T23:04:08Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No; that’s the heat ray vision. First off, it’s HEAT vision. No ray. Second, heat vision is not the result of a mutant gene; it is natural to Kryptonians & Daxamites while under the influence of a yellow sun. Third, what IS the result of a mutant gene is S. Summers’ concussive force blast, which, though optical in origin and scarlet in hue, are NOT heat-based. HTH. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/19 "2009-08-18T00:33:51Z")
Uh oh. Sounds like another Liberal got a case of the Mondays.☹ > [@Sometimes\_Sober\_Sometimes\_Not](#): > > To argue over abortion or global warming is really a joke in the long run. Well…yes because in the long run we are all dead anyway. > [@](#): > > Man was put on Earth to destroy it. Not to preserve it. We were not “put here” to do anything. And Earth will be here for millions of years. WE might not be. So as the only species capable of making long-term choices it behoves us to protect the environment we live in. > [@](#): > > Human beings are the most selfish conceded animals in the animal kingdom. Really? Because I don’t see a lot of animals in the wild sharing with each other. > [@](#): > > Human beings even have to separate themselves from the animal kingdom even. Well yes. Kind of goes back to when we had to worry about being eaten by them. > [@](#): > > Humans can’t even admit they have bodily functions for example. I feel a couple of bodily functions coming on right now. > [@](#): > > To kill another human like in an abortion just to get rid of it is as selfish as a human can get. But, to kill a human to punish them. Is has human as a human can get. Protecting life sometimes means killing life. The Animal Kingdom proves this everyday. So…you are against abortion?😕 > [@](#): > > If you break down the Animal Kingdom. From the time animals are born every action benefits other animals unbeknown to them. From the plants they eat and drop. To the animals that eat their bodies after they die. The list goes on. It’s why having “low intelligence” is bitter sweet. Maybe in Disney movies. IRL nature is a brutal, unforgiving place. > [@](#): > > Human beings have abused their “higher intelligence” since the beginning they began thinking they were better. People like to survive. It has only been in the past few centuries where we have developed the technology to allow most of us to do so. I’m sorry but I find anti-humanist thinking like yours to be idiotic and counterproductive. The fact of the matter is that we ARE here and there are actually millions of people trying to figure out ways for us to coexist better with our environment. If it’s that important to you, go work for a green energy company or invent a longer lasting low energy lightbulb or something. But whining about how “selfish” humans are just sounds stupid. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768/20 "2009-08-18T00:41:03Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > First off, it’s HEAT vision. No ray. I knew a guy named Ray who had a heat rash. Close enough? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-beings-are-the-most-selfish-animals-on-earth-every-action-we-do-benefits-us-and-us-only/506768.md?page=2)