UNIQUENESS OF MAN

Human beings are a special kind of animal who is different from other animals like birds, snakes, lions
etc. One of the factors that make human beings unique is their intelligence.
Intelligence can be defined as the ability to acquire knowledge and skills.
Human intelligence as a distinguishing feature:
Two specific aspects of our intelligence that distinguishes us (humans) from animals are:
a) Our self-awareness:
Self-awareness means to be conscious of one’s difference from other people in one’s thoughts and ideas.
b) Our reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Our ability to reason means we can think, understand and form judgement using logic. We use this ability
to solve problems e.g. make tools to transform the world around us.
COMPENTS OF INTELLIGENCE:
1. Ability to manipulate our environment to suit us better
2. Ability to acquire skills
3. Inquisitiveness- the need to find out about the world around us.
4. Ability to make observations-seeing what is going on in the world around us, using our senses to take
note of what is happening around us.
5. Ability to make measurement-measuring what is going on in the world around us.
MAN AS A PRIMATE
Human beings belong to a subgroup of mammals called primates. All primates are mammals but not all
mammals are primates.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT DIFFERENTIATE PRIMATES FROM MAMMALS
1 They have no claws
2 They grasp things with their hands
3 They possess nails on their hands and feet
4 They can stand upright
5 They have eyes in the front of their heads
6 They have an opposable thumb which they use together with the forefinger to pick things up
MAN AS A HIGHER ANIMAL
Man is different from other primates possessing the following characteristics
1 Man possesses S-curve shaped backbone, which helps them to balance in an upright position
2 Human beings habitually walk upright on two legs always making their hands free to do some
other work
3 Man’s brain is much larger and more complex
4 Human beings have elaborate forms of culture and communication
5 Man can use his hands to handle tools
6 Human beings have throat structures that make speech possible
7 Human beings have unique intellectual capabilities which enable them to think, plan and solve
problems
 ASSIGNMENT ON UNIQUENESS OF MAN
1. Which one of the following characteristics is unique to humans?
A. Respiration B. Responding to stimuli
C. Reasoning and solving problems D. Movement
2. Which one of the following is the use of intelligence?
A. Responding to stimuli B. Manipulating the environment
B. Digesting food D. Moving away from danger
3. Which one of the following is NOT a feature of intelligence?
A. Reasoning B. Observation C. Skills D. Walking
4. Human beings belong to the subgroup of mammals called ________
A. Mammalia B. amphibians C. primates D. aves
5, Using our senses to take note of what is going on in our environment is known as______
6. The “S” shaped backbone in man enables man to_________
A. run B. summersault C. stand upright while walking D. walk
7. The ability to acquire skill and knowledge is known as ____________
8. two specific aspect of our intelligence that distinguishes humans from animals are
a. __________________________ b. _____________________
9. Our ability to reason means___________________