Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Difference Between Animals and Humans


In today’s current society there are numerous separate kingdoms, genera, and species in the world. However a basic generalization of all these organisms are the mineral, vegetable, animal, and human kingdoms in this world. Although these kingdoms may have some similarities, there is a major difference between the human kingdom and the rest of the kingdoms in the world of nature. The difference between mankind and the other life forms in nature is free will, which is made apparent through the existence of the human spirit.

Free will is given to all humans through their ability to make a choice and decide on their fate whether they use it for good or bad. However, “Nature is subjected to an absolute organization, to determined laws, to a complete order and a finished design, from which it will never depart.” (1) While humans in and of themselves have the power to “resist and oppose nature because he discovers the constitution of things…” (1) Since saying that since humankind is not subject to this set design, humans may do what they please.

Nature itself has no intelligence nor will for it cannot make any decisions because it has no soul. For example, “the nature of fire is to burn” (1) and “the nature of water is fluidity; it flows without will or intelligence.” However, man has free will hence leading to numerous inventions, which are due to the discovery of the constitution of nature. For instance, the discovery of the basic principles of physics have allowed us to currently create vast and incredible things, and the discovery of viruses and bacteria have allowed us to invent vaccines and cures for certain diseases.

Therefore, mankind must consider this single idea: if humans have been created with free will and souls, should man not act more proper than common animals. Unfortunately, as our knowledge of the constitution of nature grows so does our free will, thereby allowing humans to commit more wrongs than rights. As it is written in The Hidden Words:

“O SON OF SPIRIT! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which wast created.”(2)

May the peoples of the world grow and develop to enable humanity to become a noble being; and use their free will to not simply profit themselves like simple animals, but to profit the entirety of creation.


References

1) (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, pgs. 3-4)
2) (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words from Arabic, number: 22)

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