To Hold Contradiction In Our Hands Is What Makes Us Unique As Humans

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Humans are Not Unique in:

• Genes: we are not human due to our genes in the sense that we have basically the same genes and basic building blocks as fruit flies.
• Aggression: killing a member of your own species. Other animals do this as well. Humans however do passive aggressive behavior, looking the other way, etc.
• Theory of Mind: Someone has different thoughts than you. Other species such as chimpanzee have theory of mind as well. Humans however have secondary theory of mind which is understanding the mental state of multiple people and multiple people removed. For example, being able to understand the plot and enjoying movies and plays.
• The Golden Rule: the principle of treating others as you want to be treated. Other species have this as well. What is unique is understanding that someone else’s reward may be different than yours.
• Empathy: de Waal’s chimps demonstrate empathy and the innocent bystander. Chimps try to console the “victim” or innocent bystander. Humans are unique in the abstraction and extensions of empathy.
• Pleasure in anticipation and gratification postponement: Other species do this well. Humans are different in how long we can postpone until we receive pleasure or gratification. We can “hold-on” a really long time for that reward. For example, heaven after death.
• Culture: Transmission of behavior outside of genes is culture. Humans are different in the sheer complexity and magnificence of human culture.

Humans are most unique in sense of holding contradiction. That is, “the less it is possible that something can be, the more it must be” is distinctly human.

As Kierkegaard puts it:

“Christian faith requires that faith persists in the face of the impossible, and that humans have the capacity to simultaneously believe in two contradictory things.”

Or Sister Helen Prejean, a Roman Catholic nun puts it:

“The less forgivable the act, the more it must be forgiven. The less lovable the person is, the more you must find the means to love them.”