In this article, we will discuss the relevance of thinking about human superiority over other animals. Biologically, it is evident that animals and humans are somewhat related. Nature gifted humans with large brains, cognitive power, and articulate speech, but the fighting instinct remains intact. Human history is full of stories of violence, enslavement, and exploitation in the civilised realm. In contrast, the “jungle rule” in reality is a remarkably balanced and orderly system. Animals kill to survive, not for dominance or greed. The irony is that what is preached is different from what is practised.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Humans often believe in their superiority over animals, yet evolution shows a shared violent instinct.
- While humans claim a civilised society, their history reveals patterns of violence and exploitation.
- The ‘jungle rule’ presents a structured system where animals act out of instinct, contrasting with human disarray and selfishness.
- Human behaviors often reflect animal instincts, undermining the notion of superior civility, especially in relationships.
- Despite high intelligence, humans struggle with maintaining harmony, leading to a continuous cycle of conflict.
Human superiority
Are humans different from other animals? Are they special? Well, biologically speaking, they are not. This statement may offend many humanists and anthropocentrics who consider humans the best among the best, with highly developed brains, well-developed cognitive power, articulate speech, and other special characteristics. These and many other characteristics draw a distinct line between humans and other animals, making the former superior and paramount.
That sounds rosy, and to a certain extent it is true, but not absolute. Modern humans have evolved through billions of years of Nature’s experimentation, thousands of trials and errors, ups and downs. Nonetheless, it is not the culmination. The evolutionary process is still ongoing, without stopping or halting. Changes are taking place, but they are slow and imperceptible. In present time humans have established their superiority, though animals have some powers which humans lack.
Commonality
The thing that is common across the whole animal kingdom is the fighting instinct. It has persisted and become more severe with the arrival of new groups. It was necessary, too. The changing environment, nature of food and agility of predators cast their effects on nature and activities of different animals. Natural history speaks volumes about the changes in features of animals, retaining the basic features and changing them mutatis mutandis according to the need. It began with some organic chemical compounds that united in the water on the Earth. The journey from unicellular microscopic animals to modern humans is a saga of struggle, adaptation and survival of the fittest. (Psychology Today)
Animal instinct and human superiority
Despite thinking themselves superior to all, humans have many traits that today’s intellectual group call animal instinct. Every type of violence is conveniently assigned to this instinct, where each one is hunting others to feed itself. Yet, a moment’s cogitation would reveal that it is not true, at least the way they are described. The answer lies in the deep scientific principle of eat or be eaten. Evolution has given rise to an erect, bipedal animal that was a humanoid with a large cranium that housed a brain. It was the precursor to modern man. Several changes occurred; some organs were lost, some remained as vestigial, but the hunting spirit did not die down. Early humans were hunters and cave dwellers.
Jungle rule
Cry and clamour, cut-throat competition, unnecessary fights and abuses of modern times are the outcome of the latent animal instinct, but humans keep boasting about their civilised society and ostensible showing off to cement the thought of human superiority. Demeaning animal instinct and equating the chaotic condition with the so called jungle-rule, humans always try to keep themselves above all other organisms.
Jungle rule, virtually, is a highly organised and orderly system where nothing happens without cause. Everything runs by norms and in a coordinated manner, like the interconnected system of gears in a mechanical watch. Nothing goes to waste, and there is something for everyone. Predators pray, and herbivores graze. Everything has a cause.
Human history
Human history is full of violent stories, enslavement, exploitation, oppression and discrimination. Societies formed; they framed rules to have an orderly and regulated way of living, but it could not suffice, and there is no evidence of a peaceful and harmonious society on par with jungle rule. Ironically, haughty humans term jungle rule while referring to anarchy and chaotic conditions.
Jungle rule vs human society
Contrary to jungle rule, a human society is full of mendacity, haughtiness, and selfishness. Relationships are legalised and solemnised, but there is commotion and acrimonious fighting between the members of families. Family is gradually becoming dubious place now. Most violent verbal fights and acrimonious exchanges of caustic words are frequent. It is nothing but the manifestation of animal instinct in human form. It is in juxtaposition to what they preach and do to establish human superiority.
Competition and collision
Collision is natural and gives momentum. It is present at the atomic stage also, where the atoms and molecules constantly move and collide, releasing energy. Nevertheless, these collisions are unaimed and haphazard. Humans, nonetheless, collide on purpose because nature has given them brains. They can think and express their feelings. Humans have made their lives very complicated and convoluted. Animal behaviour is a set of patterns, but human behaviour is uncertain and unpredictable.
Acrimonious verbal family commotions are common, but in recent times, it has taken an ugly turn. This is because society distinguishes individuals based on gender, referring to an individual as fair sex or weak. In actuality, no one is weak or timid. It is the mindset which makes them so. Everyone thinks about themselves as right. The fight is for superiority. The harmonious way of living has becoming a distant dream. The competition is about who can present their case effectively and tactfully to win the case.
Jungle rule and Codified law
Jungle rule has no codified law. There is no rule in the jungle that might is right. The jungle is ruled by unwritten and unseen law. Animals don’t kill other animals for pleasure, nor do they plan and plot. A predator prays to satiate the pangs of hunger but doesn’t kill for the sake of it. They take from Nature and replenish it to keep a balance; they don’t hoard, nor do they have greed. Sapient humans do it all and indulge in violence to establish their superiority over one another. It is the picture of civilised humans and their society.
Human animal relation
Humans started taming animals for their benefit. They didn’t hesitate to enslave humans for their benefit; discriminated against other humans on fictitious grounds like skin colour, ethnicity and caste. They created artificial cells of caste, creed and religion to nourish divisive tendencies and establish hegemony. Ironically, they boast about themselves as civilised.
Affinity for animals
An unconscious feeling of closeness with animals causes humans to show affinity for animals. They try to befriend them and weave stories, keeping animals at the centre, often making them the protagonists to express human feelings. These animal characters behave and talk like humans and follow human norms. Many literary works were created to substantiate this and give a positive message to society. Practice, nonetheless, surpasses preaching. Generations have passed; many great personalities came and perished, but humans didn’t change their ways.
Weakening bond
With advanced brains, cognitive power and the evolution of emotions, humans adapted themselves to use emotions as weapons to get what they desired at the cost of others. Even supposedly among the closest human-made relationships, there is a deep trench of suspicion arising out of deceit and whim. It creates a rift. Like the tectonic plate movement that results in earthquakes and tsunamis, the relationship is shaking. In Indian society, the sheen of the marriage bond is waning.
A blessed land
India is a land of saints and spirited people. It is the blessed land where Buddha roamed and rolled the wheel of righteousness. His “Dharmchakra pravartan” started from Sarnath near Varanasi in India. Centuries after he was gone, his followers were divided into factions. Many great saints, like Jain Tirthankars, taught ways to live a harmonious life. GuruNanak showed the way to humanity. Despite it all, society is not at peace because humans still have not learned to control their negative emotions. In this way, humans tried to establish their superiority.
In the end
Animals and plants do not need such a high-class intellectual discourse where one preaches and does the reverse. Happiness and sorrow, vexation and delight, are the two sides of the same coin. They manifest from time to time. So, expecting an ideal society is a utopia. Animals can do nothing of this sort because they lack human qualities. Therefore, humans conveniently take them as protagonists or wish to have some of their qualities.
Further reads:
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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