PLANTS, ANIMALS AND MAN
Mistakes are made more and more often, by anthropomorphism, by sentimentalism, by moralism.
The first error consists in introducing a radical cut between the vegetable kingdom and the animal kingdom. Even though there are differences, there is continuity.
The classification of the simplest organisms is discussed. Animals may not have proper brains, plants may absorb other living things. Recent studies show that plants can have complex systems, more complex than some animals. In addition, plants have sensations, communicate, combine and fight. They can suffer.
The second mistake is to refuse to differentiate between animals. However, in my opinion, the monkeys of a tribe, who hold a ceremony in honor of a deceased, are not on the same level as other animals who do not reach this level.
The third mistake is to deny the animal nature of man. It’s unusual these days, and I don’t insist.
The fourth and more fashionable mistake is refusing to admit that there is a difference between humans and animals.
For once, the Bible shows it clearly. Once they have eaten the fruit of knowledge, Adam and Eve gain access to the notions of good, bad, and modesty. They access consciousness, abstraction.
Of all creatures, man is the only one on Earth to have achieved this state. It is this consciousness that allows him to create ideologies, nations, religions, philosophies. These myths give men the possibility to cooperate on a scale unknown to animals, to go to the moon, to write poems, musical works and to enjoy reading them, hearing them.
To quote Mr. Hariri in “Homo Sapiens” you will not convince a monkey to give you the banana he is holding by telling him that a deity will pay him back a hundredfold.
