Engels words on the difference between humans and animals:
"In short, the animal merely uses external nature, and brings about changes in it simply by his presence; man by his changes makes it serve his ends, masters it. This is the final, essential distinction between man and other animals, and once again it is labour that brings about this distinction."
Apart from the use of man/men instead of people/humanity which was the convention of the time this can be read as humanity domineering over nature. But Engels subsequently makes clear that unsustainable exploitation of nature will bring a "revenge":
"Thus at every step we are reminded that we by no means rule over nature like a conqueror over a foreign people, like someone standing outside nature - but that we, with flesh, blood, and brain, belong to nature, and exist in its midst, and that all our mastery of it consists in the fact that we have the advantage over all other beings of being able to know and correctly apply its laws." (Role Played by Labour in the Transition from Ape to Man, Engels 1883).
Engels' key insight is that it was the evolution of a mode of production out of the mode of being of animals that demarcated humanity from animals. Fire was probably instrumental in this but it was probably accompanied by other changes like adoption of permanent bases for sleeping, food storage, cooking and butchery (a "home" ), pair bonding instead of a primate mating system of dominant males and "harems", and an extended cho=ildhood supported by a co-operative community that constituted a "human revolution" rather than any gradual incremental transition of separate changes that took our species from the world of animals to that of humanity.
0
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
1 comment
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.How much money per hour did Frederick Engels pay his shoe workers ?? $$$$
Larry68Feminist
Level 7
Feb 9, 2021
0
Recent Visitors 5
William_Mary
UNIONTOWN,
altschmerz
Over The Rainbow,
girlwithsmiles
Thrussington, Leicester,
TimeOutForMe
Johannesburg,
Larry68Feminist
IA, USA
Photos 121 More
Posted by William_MaryIt rarely never fails.
Posted by William_MaryIf You Wish Someone a Happy Memorial Day, You Fail to Understand Its True Meaning The mythology perpetuated at Memorial Day benefits no one save the militarists and war profiteers.
Posted by LufahyuMedia Sources; people from all walks and ideologies peruse a variety of source material available on the Internet, some more reliable than others.
Posted by joy2loveThe Neuroscience of Illusion - Scientific American
Posted by CherokeemanBlessings y'all.
Posted by Archeus_LoreA good meme for religious people to see . . . .
Posted by William_MaryIt has been questioned if Einstein actually made this statement.
Posted by William_Mary“The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.
Posted by William_MaryHowever we have an escape-------[wsws.org]
Posted by William_MaryKeep people from their history, and they are easily controlled.
Posted by William_MaryThis fairly explains our political woes within our citizenry when it comes to the voting process that's managed within only 2 parties with their perceptions managed by propaganda designed to support ...
Posted by William_MaryI can pretty much apply this thought to just about everyone who has attempted to challenge my agenda here in this group, and my comments on social media in regards to our political arena.
Posted by William_MaryBy Apr.
Posted by William_MaryThe working class holds the strength to change the world for a better society for everyone. We just need to refuse to remain indoctrinated into their manufactured delusional reality.
Posted by William_MaryWhen the state is controlled by corporations and the ruling class.
Posted by of-the-mountainHas sanity and respect for all female, male, and children’s healthcare been suspended by these obstructionists republican fascists with their overt agenda against the people of this country!!! Are ...