It’s interesting, because there are a couple of other species besides Homo Sapien that demonstrate that ability too (at least, to some extent)… and it’s pretty neat.
Dolphins are one.. It’s crazy to think, but in previous years, Dolphins have shown the ability to not only study human behavior, but learn it and transfer it on to other dolphins. In fact, recently, scientists have started to think that we’ve underestimated the dolphin’s intellect and that they’re likely just as intelligent (and creative/emotional) as humans are; it’s just unfortunate that they can’t build things because they likely would be if they had the physicality (hands, thumbs) to do so. Hmm… maybe in another 5000 years…
The other apes in the great ape family are another one…we know that they are a lot like us, only a bit further behind on the evolutionary path. Ever hear about the chimps that they discovered who have made spears/arrowheads from sticks and rocks to go hunt? Pretty wild.
Dogs. They have been known to mourn the death of other dogs (emotional display) as well as being able to learn things. Sometimes they’ll cry when they don’t get their way, and amusingly, some of them will ‘guilt trip’ you (for instance at the dinner table if you won’t give them food.) They’re obviously not as smart as dolphins, but they’ve been a symbiotic force to humans going WAAAY back to when we were tribal lifeforms (when dogs deviated from wolves), and it’s apparent that they’ve grown in their mental abilities from when they were wolves, and picked up on some of our behavioral traits as a species.
Ahh but I didnt say that other species dont demonstrate ability to learn and think. The word “extent” is key here.
This is what I said …
Dolphins do have a superior brain to many other mammals but they still have a long way to go before they reach the level of the human brain.
They show the ability to learn, empathize, use limited logic and even upon coaxing they are non violent. They even use body language that demonstrates shame. They are remarkable creatures. Still they cant mingle all those abilities like humans do. Thy dolphins brain stands out in size to body mass to the human brain. However we use more of our brain then dolphins do and even then most people only use a percentage of there brains actual capacity. We also have the ability to use the right side and the left side simultaneously although we are primarily left brain thinkers.
So yes animals as I said above show some of the same characteristic and abilities as humans however no other species has them all working simultaneously. Yes we have instinct but our brains allow us to function well beyond that and with knowledge and power so to comes responsibility.