Um... I believe it was you who brought up the subject of dictionary definitions, not me. I wanted to know (way, way back) how exactly you perceived humans to be superior to all other species. You told me to look in a dictionary. I did.My issue with you is your unqualified assumption that humans are superior IN AN OVERALL SENSE to all other species. I don't see how you can assert that, how can you come to that conclusion? I mean, I get it when someone says a seal is a superior swimmer, or that a spider is a superior web-spinner. By that token, I'll grant that humans have superior manual dexterity, and that they have superior motor vehicle operating skills. I won't say humans are superior because they can adapt to various environmental situations (your and Red's example) for two reasons:
1) I personally (and most other humans, I'll wager) am incapable of adapting to these environments using only my own skills. I rely on others to pump heat into my home. I rely on others to design and manufacture my thermal underwear. I rely on others to provide me with electricity and tools to prepare my food, and furthermore I rely on others to grow and ship me the food I must consume. MOST PEOPLE are not superior in the sense of being independently adaptable. MOST PEOPLE cannot grow their own food or provide sufficient heat and cooking power, or raw materials for clothing etc... A scorpion is a superior dessert survivor, not an arctic survivor. I'm neither. (Does this make me superior in an ALL-ENCOMPASSING sense? No. Does the scorpion get that title? No. Does any species? Not in my books. It's a ridiculous argument to make, and it wreaks of conceit and arrogance.
2) Humans adapt well to many environments (because of accumulated, transferred technique, not because of individual adaptability) which they then promptly proced to destroy. Is it superiority that allows us to pollute our cities so that the air we breathe and the water we drink are poisonous? Is it superiority that allows us to destroy ecosystems and species all over the planet? Is it our superiority that makes us spray toxic chemicals on our foods to eliminate "pests", such that even conservative agriculture boards (interested in selling food, not eliminating poisons) publicly admits that 10% of our fresh produce contains harmful levels of pesticides? These are all environmental concerns that have been recognized by among the most conservative of organizations. I have left out those nightmares such as global warming and ozone depletion, since I know, despite thousands of studies and hundreds of scientists representing the UN which concluded many years ago that the problems are all too real, you think it is hogwash.
If proliferation and adaptability are signs of OVERALL SUPERIORITY, rats, zebra mussels, rabbits, cockroaches, and purple loosestrife have humans beat hands down.
You can laugh all you want Stuart, but you still haven't backed up your argument.
