Human
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
Human beings are one of the members of the family Hominidae, which also includes chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. They are the only existent member of the genus Homo. Numbering somewhat more than six billion, they are a ubiquitous species on the planet Earth. They are distinct from other primates in that they are bipedal, possess syntactic language, and make use of technology to modify the world around them.
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[edit] Genesis
This section of the article discusses the origins of human beings as products of natural forces, a concept known as evolution which is the prevailing scientific theory. Some people dispute this idea, mainly on religious grounds; for more information see Wikipedia:Creation_evolution_controversy.
As primates, human beings (Homo sapiens) share many characteristics of their close relatives, and as such may be considered to have a comparatively recent common ancestor with other hominids, such as the chimpanzee. At present, diversion from the rest of the hominid lineage is thought to have occurred somewhere greater than eight million years ago. In general, human evolution is characterized by expansion of the cranium, bipedality, and a tendency towards gracility concurrent with the development of technology.
Habitual bipedality is observed as early as Ardipithecus and quickly became a defining trait of the clade. Tool use may or may not have been associated with the Australopithecines, but had become endemic by the time of Homo habilis (Lat. "handy man"), with flaked stone tools common at H. habilis sites.
Homo erectus (Lat. "upright man"), another Pleistocene hominid (~1.5 mya to 2-5 kya) refined the art of tool use. This was the first species in the genus to leave the African continent; H. Erectus skeletons have been found in Europe and as far away as China. There is somewhat controversial evidence for the domestication of fire at this time.
Homo neanderthalensis (or H. sapiens neanderthalensis) appeared at around 250 kya, and is associated with sites in Europe; the type specimen was discovered in Germany. This species possessed a varied toolkit consisting of bone and stone tools, including composite tools (composed of more than one element). There is some evidence of language use as well as ceremonial burial, and a flute discovered in Slovenia suggests that they had a concept of music.
Anatomically modern human beings, H. sapiens (Lat. "knowing man"), evolved several hundred thousand years ago. There is an ongoing debate as to the precise origin: simultaneous descent from H. neanderthalensis in all places occupied by that species, or a single evolution in Africa followed by dispersal from the continent. Presently, mitochondrial DNA lends heavy credibility to the "out of Africa" hypothesis, and the prevailing current of anthropology sides with this notion.
[edit] Biology
Human beings are placental mammals. As is typical of such creatures, they reproduce sexually and are born after a gestation period, after which they are dependent on their mother for sustenance until being weaned. Notably, human birth is somewhat more complicated than the process in other species owing to the comparatively large size of the foetal human cranium. The life cycle is relatively long, in common with other primates; the gestation averages around nine months, with a productive lifespan of several decades. Numerous human centenarians have been recorded.
They are fairly large primates and sexually dimorphic, although not strongly so: the mean height of a North American male is 175 cm with a weight of 78 kg; the averages for females are 162 cm and 62 kg. Height, weight, and muscle mass vary greatly with genetics and diet. Compared to other mammals (and indeed other primates) they are somewhat bald, with hair occurring predominantly in patches. Skin colour is varied and distributes itself clinally (darkest in low latitudes). Hair and eye color also vary greatly. Humans are traditionally divided into "races" based on coloration and geographic origin, but many cultures reject the drawing of such distinctions as immoral (racism) and as unjustified by the small magnitude of the difference between races. Still, racial distinctions have played a major role in defining human cultures and as a cause of, or rationale for, violence.
While the primate order tends towards intelligence, humans are commonly believed to be the most intelligent. The attempt to test this claim has involved extensive study of other species. Humans have smaller brains than those of elephants and cetaceans, but have a higher brain/body mass ratio than any species but certain shrews, whose absolute brain size is small. Humans are one of the few species to shape their environment through tool use and are indisputably the most technologically advanced. Human linguistic skills appear to be more developed than those of other species, with no other animal clearly demonstrating use of grammar, though there is dispute over whether great apes possess true language ability. They are one of only four species to successfully pass the so-called "mirror test" (recognition of a mirror image as being of itself). The proper means of defining and measuring intelligence is an ongoing debate, as is the extent to which evolution and genetics shape human moral "instincts". Humans continue to search for intelligence in other species, in human-built machines, and in space, suggesting that the nature of intelligence is of great interest to them.
Humans are extremely social, typically living in groups, exchanging information through language, and interacting in other ways. In the modern world most humans are members of a nation-state controlling a particular territory and having a unified government.
[edit] Humans and furriness
[edit] In furry worlds
Human beings are fairly common in stories (art, literature, film, etc) depicting anthropomorphic characters (furry media). In many, perhaps particularly in children's movies, they cohabit with anthropomorphic characters and may or may not be aware of their presence or their intelligence. Indeed, recognition of this--and subsequent relationship between humans and furry elements--may be a plot point. In others, it is scarcely addressed.
Where the two are present concurrently and aware of the other, the relationship between them may be friendly or antagonistic. In some cases, there seems to be little inherent problem; the universe of Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek" acting as a prime illustration. In others, for example Larry Niven's Ringworld, conflicts exist but are not bred from anything in the 'difference' between man and 'the other.'
In others, however, the existence of this difference itself is a key motivation for antagonism. In some instances this is presented as an analogue of the Civil Rights movement, generally with the furry characters acting out the role of the oppressed minority. Personal relationships across species lines can be depicted as stigmatized, recalling beliefs about miscegenation.
In some instances, the very existence of anthropomorphic characters is credited to human beings, as in Clifford Simak's City or a number of less well-known pieces of literature. Here, this very fact may enter into the details of the dynamic between the two, recalling to some degree the fascination of science fiction with robotics and artificial intelligence.
Of course, a number of stories lack humans entirely. Occasionally an explanation is presented for this that acknowledges the once or current existence of human beings, though more frequently the rules of the universe simply replace them outright with furry counterparts. This, as well, is a comparatively common setup in anthropomorphic literature and artwork; perhaps the dominant archetype.
[edit] In real life
While all members of the furry fandom simultaneously belong to the species Homo sapiens, this fact in and of itself seems to be occasionally a source of conflict: outside observers may notice a current of misanthropy running through some of the fandom, manifesting itself in ways subtle and otherwise. Additionally, a small but not necessarily insignificant percentage of furries appear to repudiate their ties to the human race entirely.
Furthermore, and somewhat intriguingly, the separation between furry and non-furry mentioned in the previous section--if not truly antagonistic--may not confine itself entirely to the world of art and the imagination. Online role-playing program Second Life supports a furry community that, according to an article in the Austin 360, practices a degree of self-imposed segregation between itself and 'human' role-players. [1]
[edit] References
1. Stafford, Joe. "Exploring the World of 'Second Life'" Austin 360. 23 January 2005. Available online
