Can humans really claim to be unique?

Q: For my APS (Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) class, we have to write an essay on the topic "can humans really claim to be unique?" I'm just curious as to what people's opinions are: 1. Humans are completely different from animals, as in we have our own language, culture, etc. 2. Humans are somewhat like animals since we are considered to have evolved from apes according to Darwin's theory. 3. Humans are simply animals. What do you think? Please list 1, 2 or 3 and give a reason. Thank you :):):)

A: I could support those all three claims. 1. Humans are completely different from animals, as in we have our own language, culture, etc. - We are different from other species in the sense, that evolution has given us gift of higher intelligence that allows us to understand more deeply and has higher cultural evolution possible, but this does not mean that we are somehow apart from animals or better compared to other species. You could imagine that higher intelligence is a special characteristic of humans, because we could not survive in the nature without it. That's why it was formed by evolution. Many other species are physically superior (better eyesight, better hearing, warm fur, sharp claws, sharp teeth) and quicker, so their populations have been able to manage in the nature and stay alive. Therefore their abilities did not change to same direction with humans in evolution and they did not require high intelligence in order to survive. It's not the goal of evolution to give all species high intelligence. If you can do fine with lower intelligence with other resources, then it's fine and there's no reason to become more intelligent. We humans get physically mature very slowly and traditionally we have had to stick with other humans to be able to defend ourselves. Human children are very dependent on their parents for long time, but animal growth is usually quicker and they have many inherited surviving models that rely on instincts. Humans have to teach their offspring more before they will be able to survive alone. 2. Humans are somewhat like animals since we are considered to have evolved from apes according to Darwin's theory. - Of course we are similar to animals, but actually we have only common ancestor with apes. They are our cousins. We all are from same root. There are a lot of physical similarities and animals use signals to communicate like we use our language. Of course signal languages are relatively simple, but they still communicate. Animals also feel fear and pain like humans do. They certainly have feelings. 3. Humans are simply animals. - Of course we are simply animals. What else we would be? We are animals that evolution took to little bit different direction and gave us an ability that most of other species do not possess, because they can do fine without it.

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