I feel very strongly that what separates us from animals is a quantitative rather than a qualitative difference — and not a very large quantitative difference at that. Indeed, if you read Jared Diamond's works it becomes clear the extent to which human progress depends on the right environmental conditions as well as our innate abilities. Explaining why some human civilisations achieved so much more than others requires one to understand the importance of East-West migratory routes, the horse, a relatively placid sea surrounded by crinkly land masses and lots of other things EMEA has and other areas lack.

Tribespeople from Guinea have been known to go from undeveloped to qualifying as commercial pilots within a generation. Then again, we can also teach a dog to cross a road safely.

The smartest non-human animals are capable of a lot more than the dumbest humans. It's legal to serve as dinner creatures more intelligent than the dumbest humans.

Me, I'm vegetarian.