humans as higher animals Week 2

simple meaning of nature

nature refers to the essence (what a thing is) of a being or thing

focusing of the natural world, what is nature

Focusing on the natural world as studied by natural sciences, nature refers to the intrinsic principle (internal source) of natural beings, from which their characteristic activities and responses arise.

two main kinds of natural beings

• inanimate

• animate

nature of animal instincts

•They are tendencies in animals to act in a certain way.

•They are innate (inborn).

•They are automatic (therefore blind).

•Common to all members of a species.

types of senses(2) and type of knowledge acquired

• External senses (type of knowledge acquired: sensations)

• Internal senses (type of knowledge acquired: perception):

five external senses

• Sight

• sound

• smell

• taste

• touch

four internal senses

• Central or common sense

• Imagination

• Estimative sense

• Memory

what is sense appetite

Sense appetite is the capacity to be attracted to and repulsed by objects perceived by the senses. These reactions or responses are called emotions. 

what are emotions

Emotions are responses to objects perceived by the senses, and they, the emotions, arise in the form of like or dislike toward these objects or events.

what is evolution

Evolution is the process whereby the genetic endowment – and therefore traits - of a population of a particular species changes or shifts over generations through genetic variations and natural selection.

what is an evolutionary factor

Evolutionary factor: Recombination of genes and copying errors that occur during sexual reproduction (It is a force that changes the traits of a living species over generations)

what is operant conditioning

Operant conditioning is a learning process in which animal behaviour is shaped by pleasant and unpleasant consequences that follow it. Behaviour followed by a reward are most likely to be repeated, those followed by punishment are less likely to be repeated.

similarities and differences between plants, animals and humans

• Plants: Capacities for Nutrition, Growth and Reproduction.

• Animals: (Plant capacities), Locomotion, Sense cognition, Sense appetition.

• Humans: (Plant and Animal capacities), Intellectual cognition and intellectual appetition.