Have an animal build a civilization as great as ours and create the technology that we have. Have an animal have the thought and reasoning a human does. Oh wait, they can't. /thread

Human intelligence isn't to great for any individual. Jorge of the Jungle wouldn't be too much smarter than the apes he lives with. No, what humans have going for them is compound intelligence. Our ability to communicate, while not unique, is coupled with our ability to pass down information to the next generation. The creation of tools was retained by our species, and eventually improvements were made. After a few millennia, it was discovered how to produce fire, and the evolution of our species sped up at a steady pace. Eventually, someone figured out you could just [i]grow[/i] a plant, that you could combine tools, that wearing fur kept you warm, and all sorts of little things like that. It wasn't really until we had a stable food source and permanent settlements that we began our greatest work. And, going back to my earlier statement, every time communication speed and distance increased, so too did our technology. Very few people make big discoveries. And the most famous inventors rarely made the first of those devices. It's just someone figuring out a slightly better way of doing things, and telling everyone about it. [spoiler]Math was not a prerequisite for society, or even civilizations. Many ancient American societies got by with only basic math. Wolves are also known to be able to count, as it's useful for knowing the number of rivals you have, and the strength of your pack. Thumbs are not a prerequisite for intelligence, either. Nor are large brains, if ravens are anything to go by. Both in nature and in captivity, they are seen using sticks to get grubs out of trees. They are also self-aware, and will not hide things while in the view of other ravens. They, and crows, pass limited information between generations and each other, though it's not as extensive as the wall I just shared. [/spoiler]

Soon the robots will take over

Actually it's because humans have the ability to reason and no other species can.

When another species develops a math and writing system, and can explain why if one side of the right triangle is 3 units long, and another side is 4 of the same units long, why the other side is 5 units long. Then I will claim them to be on par with conservative Christians. *opens lawn chair* *cracks beer* *graps popcorn*

Humans look not to only survive, but to thrive. After all, no other species builds palaces for themselves.

We are the most adaptable species on earth

Human isn't a race it's a species

Meh you humans can pretend but you can't breath without us plants doing everything for you.

Well there's many reason but here are few -ability to pass knowledge generation to generation using spoken and written language -ability to save and destroy entire species of animals over short amounts of time. -ability to shape the transform the land around us. -ability to explore other planets -ability to create technology that makes life a lot easier for us - thumbs(can manipulate stuff easily) -math and science Dolphins just aren't on our level

Intelligence beyond all others? Some argue that Dolphins are smarter, this just isn't true.