What makes life sacred or valuable?

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Is there something fundamentally superior about humans in comparison to other animals? If so, what is it?

I definitely think in the way that we measure and define intelligence currently that humans are WAY more intelligent than other animals. There is evidence, for example, that language (being able to acquire a "grammar" of a language) is uniquely human. Even the gorillas who have learned sign language haven't internalized a grammar enough so that they can create their own new sentences and change around words according to the grammar ect. Linguists classify this as communication but not language.

However ,the question remains: does this kind of intelligence equate with goodness or the ability to love and be altruistic and empathetic? Does it equate with what's valuable and sacred about human life or life in general? What about some people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities? Some are incapable of acquiring language the way non-human animals are, with a grasp of the grammar so they can construct and understand an infinite number of novel sentences.How much intelligence is required for goodness? Does this make them less valuable? If not , why not? Is it because they're human and human life is sacred?

I think part of it comes down to whether you believe in souls or spirits that other creatures don't have and whether you believe that humans have souls and this accounts for (at least some of) their potential for goodness. Of course some believe animals have souls too but then there are some tricky questions -do fish have souls? How about other living things? Do microbes?Do plants ect.

If you don't believe in souls all of our potential for goodness comes from our physical brain., doesn't it? Instinctual emotions reside in the limbic system which both humans and animals have. Humans have a more developed neo-cortex which is thought to be necessary for conscious thought. Is conscious thought necessary for goodness? Is it necessary to make life valuable? If not, are the lives of humans who have brain damage and have lost this capacity to a certain extent still as valuable?

part alien creatures?

I find human life "valuable" as a result of enlightened self-interest.

From a purely objective standpoint, I don't believe there's anything that makes humans any more "valuable" than worms, toads, or hamsters.

^^^
Okay, I know that wasn't your point in the cat thread. I just think these fundamental questions are underlie questions about whether animals have the same emotional capabilities as humans and.....I find them interesting to ponder.

I eat meat and I'm not an animal rights person although I do strongly believe in animal welfare (which is treating animals as kindly as possible while still using them). Other animals eat meat-humans are omnivorous by nature. Still are humans just another kind of animal? Our our lives then not really more valuable in any kind of fundamental way? If they are more valuable what is this thing that makes them more valuable?

I do not follow any organized religion fully or believe in what it says in the bible (especially not in a literal sense). I wouldn't believe that we're superior because the bible says so. Still, I do believe in a higher being and a spiritual part of ourselves.....something beyond what is physical or natural.

Life is something we can easily destroy be cannot make. Perhaps we should be very careful of how much and what kind of life we destroy.

ruveyn

Human beings are superior because we are human. If a lion could think and speak on our level, to him, a lion would be superior. Superiority is a subjective trait.

Of course, I could argue that humans are superior because you are capable of asking that question. Any other predator, if faced with no predators of his own, would think nothing of killing and eating to feed himself even if the population of his species were outgrowing the ecosystem's ability to support them. We ask, we grow concerned, and we take action to balance our impact on the environment. That might just make us objectively superior.

The human brain has specialized in thinking, the giraffe's neck has specialized in reaching, the birds wings have specialized in flying...