Expert: Ralph Salier - 9/12/2011

Question
Good day
I was wondering in the study of man, what is it that gives man dominion over the other animals species that he could domesticate, conqueror them and use them at his will. I know that it is mans brain but what is actual parts of man's brain is it and why do the other animals dont have this. Or are there other reasons besides the brain like the soul etc.....
Regards,
Sunil Mahabir
Pembroke Pines, Florida

Answer
Hi Sunil,

This is a philosophical question mixed with a biological question.  Please allow me to separate the two.

Religion tells us that we have "dominion over the animals and plants" and that they were placed here for our use by "G-d".  The domestication and conquer of our fellow inhabitants of planet Earth is part of our survival mechanism as a species and to explain this we invented a reason....

To the biological question.  We are among the "more intelligent" species in that our brains to body weight ratio is quite large and our evolution took us in a direction which allows us to have a greater understanding of the world around us which then allows us to learn how to use the Earth in different ways.  In fact, we are no different then our fellow inhabitants but we have mostly forgotten this.  This is why we have global warming and pollution, and loss of resources. We are failing to pay heed to the natural world around us and  what it is telling us.  We are part of this world and we must learn to respect it and live with in its means.  

While we can cultivate food and grow huge herds of cattle, we must also remember that the lives taken to make food for our species takes food from other species thus diminishing all of us.

All animals, including us and quite possibly the plants of this world all have soul... each time we take a life, we should thank that life for what it is giving us.  By doing so, perhaps then we may learn to appreciate how closely linked we truly are  to the world around us.  Perhaps then we can learn to husband our little Earth for all species, not just us.  While our larger brains allows us to have this understanding, we humans rarely use it for understanding.......