"To Err is"...Animal?! A Theory of 'Wrong'

Let's face it, existing on this earth in this day and time is a challenging feat. Most of the time, we all feel that we are just surviving each day as it comes. The meaning of life is always just out of our grasp, as we struggle to find the path we are meant to walk. Wrong choices can be so easily made when the most consistent guidance we have is the voice in our head, which is painstakingly persuaded by so many factors. So, how do we know what decisions are truly the 'right' or 'wrong' ones? How do we really know if we are making the right decisions?

First it would be appropriate to start off with the core subject of why we're on this earth to begin with. Some have said that our existence is meant to be a series of random moments in which we should fill it with an abundance of pleasurable experiences (aka 'you only live once'). Others argue that it is a gift that has been presented to us as we are meant to show our appreciation through loving others selflessly. Even further, some have said we are simply an 'experiment' in which we have been given all the resources needed to survive and then are in somewhat of a fishbowl being analyzed by a higher power. This is an age old question that will always have dozens of theories behind it, and depending on what you believe to be the case regarding your reason for being on this earth, the ideals of right and wrong most often do play a large part in your decision making process.

Either way, the true concept of 'wrong' doesn't change depending on anyone's beliefs, because it falls under the simple basis of either acting 'human', or not.

Let me elaborate...

According to Wikipedia, being "wrong" refers to a situation wherein an individual has made an error or misjudgment. This idea of making choices that can be 'wrong' has proven to fall under different principals depending on what species is being analyzed.

In insects and animals, the process of making decisions is egotistically based with a strict sense of survival. A black widow spider kills it's mate after it impregnates her, a hamster kills it's counterpart if it falls ill in the same cage, and a mother of a litter usually always kills the smallest and most feeble of the pack so it doesn't slow down the rest. This is all perfectly acceptable in the world of animals, yet if attempted by 'humans' would be unthinkable, disgusting, downright sick. 

Genetically, humans and animals are very similar. Being that both are mammals, we are made of the same physical components; Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Calcium and hundreds of many other subtle elements. According to Time Magazine's "How Man Began", March 19, 1994, "There is 'no single essential difference that separates humans from other animals". In a nutshell, their investigation supported that the only difference between humans and animals is a slight variation in a genetic code.
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So, what is it that proves the apparent difference between other mammals and humans? If not physical, it must be metaphysical.

Our metaphysical uniqueness is powerful enough to have allowed 'humans' as the only species with the ability to invent, develop languages, cure illnesses, perform surgery, travel across the world and even into space, and lets not forget slowly accomplish the miraculous feat of nearly destroying our planet. Even though we may have once started out on a primal level, we do not follow the ways of nature in which animals do anymore, even at times we all wish we did. It seems one of the reasons for this is that our metaphysical minds have outgrown and evolved from being content with simply surviving.

This element that makes humans so unique is explored in many forms blanketing the internet and bookstores, like this mentioning by someone named GU-UN on "Yahoo Answers" as he was giving his input on the question "What are the Philosophical Differences Between Animals and Humans?" He stated...

"The body of man is in common with the animal.
The mind of man is completely unique, which does not exist in the animal. Therefore, if a man acted like an animal, he would be unhappy.
Any men who denied their rational sense, have denied their noble station. The animal is happy because it naturally satisfies the desires of the body; man is unhappy because he has to go through education to accomplish intellectual satisfaction.
The happiness of man is definitely not in the carnal satisfaction. It is false philosophy, or mere ignorance, which considers man as an animal."

Even though a brief statement regarding such a vast subject, it hits a very key idea. That part of our genetic design that has given us something no other animal has is like is the difference between one cup of water and dieing of dehydration. It may just be one cup of water, but what an amazing cup it is.

Human minds are spiritually set in a moralistic realm in which we naturally have developed a deeper need for the meaning of life, a longing to be loved, and an ongoing search for purpose. Whether it's inherent after years of evolution, or learned during our formative years, the bottom line is that it is who we are and it is what has set us apart from any other species and gives us the honor of being able to distinguish ourselves as 'human'.

So, here's the magic question... If we are in agreement about the fact that we are indeed human and not animals, and that being 'human' is simply keyed in to the way we behave more so than our physical DNA...then should we accept the idea that we are only human if we behave 'human'? Right?! This would mean moving along a path in life where we are not "denying our rational sense" as it would be "denying our noble station".

IMO,we would be selling ourselves depressingly short by not continuing to challenge that small, yet profound part of us that makes us unique and is the root of how we will continue to evolve in the metaphysical realm and become closer to full spirituality, God, the Universe, or what ever it is that we imagine to be our goal as a species with an ongoing need to find the meaning of life.

If we are to do this, then our decisions should not be formed on a physical level, but on a metaphysical, or psychological one. Meaning, that we should be always asking ourselves what we can do to grow spiritually, not what we can do to satisfy ourselves physically as an animal would in the wild. This simply means putting the best interest of others before our own/ basing decisions on moral principals.

Using the word "human" to the fullest extent, maybe you should look at the selections below and ask yourself if you're behaving more human than animal. The answers may shock some people who think they are just automatically 'human' without earning the title. Even further, there are some animals I know of that act more 'human'...

Humans:                            

Solidify relationships with a commitment in which they are faithful in respect to themselves and their lover

Animals:

May have one mate at times, but there is no exercise in faithfulness or respect. The male usually impregnates many females with no concern of anyone but himself, the female sometimes kills the male after impregnation.

Humans:

Bare children with their partner with careful planning and consideration for how to raise them properly. Make a commitment to not only feed and protect their offspring from physical dangers, but to also protect their emotional well being by putting their children's best interest before their own.
Animals:

Females have multiple litters by many different fathers, leave the weakest to die when they're born or even kill them. Males just look for 'a warm place to put it' (Dr. Laura Schlessinger's quote) whenever and where ever it feels good.

Humans: 
Share the world around them with all other living creatures by carefully earning, planning and rationing all goods and services. Also, humans give some of what is theirs to others who are in need.
Animals:
Take what they can, when they can, without regard for other's needs or feelings. Animals have a very set of principals...find what feels or tastes good and get it before others do.  

Where do you fall? I must admit, I've been a bit of an animal at times myself. I prefer to now try to save that behavior for Halloween, or other times I like to play dress up:)