The Dammed Human Race - Essay Example

Opposing Arguments to “The Damned Human Race” Mark Twain initiates its writing “The Damned Human Race” , by comparing human race with other so-called “ lower animals ".He concludes that human creatures are classified as “lower animals” due to their combativeness and cruelty for no reason. He claims that men are even inferior to the lowest animals and that there is nothing below us, the humans. The humans are distinct species that are usually considered better than any other animal species due to their highly developed brains and their learning and problem solving abilities.

Hence, I disagree with Twain’s view because I believe that humans are superior to all animals because only men save money and food to prepare for the emergencies and only they have moral sense to use it for good and prevent wrong actions. Since, brutality and combativeness that form the basis of the criticism are seen in a few human beings’ behavior, humans cannot be graded as the lowest level animals. I believe that humans are the most superior animals firstly because the most distinguishing feature of humans is their prudence and their ability to preplan by accumulating money and food to prepare for the future use.

Mark Twain argues that men save more money and food even if they have enough provisions because they are avaricious and greedy, while others are satisfied as long as their daily requirements are fulfilled. In one of his experiments, Twain gave wild and tame animals an opportunity to store vast amount of food but none of the animals stored food. He states that these animals do not store food because they are not avaricious and miserly. However, animals do not store food like men because wild animals obtain food from the nature and tame animals are fed by humans.

They do not need to store food. If animals cultivated their own food, they would have responded differently. In the competitive human life, if men do not store enough food and money, the chance of their survival decreases in case of any mishap. They have to be prepared to any face natural disaster or life changing event such as loss of a job. There are numerous examples that show that men are not greedy and miserly, but loving and caring. For example, U.S. sent money, food, medical drug, and professionals to Haiti in aid to help the nation fight the devastating earthquake.

Mark Twain only talks about people that are cruel and ignores the other aspect of the topics by quoting examples of those who are loving and caring. Furthermore, Mark Twain did not prove that all animals are not avaricious and greedy since he did not study all animal groups. Hence his claims were weak. Secondly, only humans are superior animals because they possess “modesty”, which guides them. This moral sense makes them do noble deeds and prevents them from doing wrong. Mark Twain argues that the “Moral Sense” of humans degrades them and makes them the most inferior animals because this sense provides them with the ability to do evil.

Actually, “Moral Sense” makes humans able to easily distinguish between good and bad behavior. Although “Moral Sense” highlights evil, it is the same Moral Sense that makes us to do right things. Most of the times, “Moral Sense” maintains human society in peace and harmony. However, since animals do not possess “Moral Sense”, their behavior is not considered right or wrong. Without moral sense, men would not feel guilty even if they brutally slaughter other men or animals. Many animals on the other hand hunt other animal and do not feel guilty because they do not have a “Moral Sense”.

Lastly, I believe men cannot be classified as “lower animals” just because some men are cruel and combative. Twain continuously makes reference to man’s innate cruelty throughout the essay. Mark Twain explains about men’s cruelty in one of his examples by comparing English earl and anaconda. He refers that the earl is cruel since the earl killed seventy-two to eat just one animal and waste others, but anaconda does not kill other animals if there is no use. Though English earl did not respect the buffalo, not all men are disrespectful and wasteful.

If all men were cruel, there would be only blood-shed and murder stories on our TV and newspapers every day. In addition, even if we suppose all men were cruel, cruelty cannot be the only reason behind grading humans as the “lowest”. Human species are superior animals because they are only bi-pods who have developed brain technology and complex social structure. Humans are superior because they can possess multiple attributes. They can be cruel and loving and caring at the same time. All of Mark Twain’s examples and experiments from “The Damned Human Race” only bring up people who hate and are cruel.

H e goes on two prove his theory instead of highlighting the opposing views two. His analysis one sided. Despite the presence of innumerable stories of people who help and care for one another, he fails to quote even one. Hence it can be concluded that some men are cruel while others are not. It is not “Moral Sense” which degrades human quality, instead a person utilizing it, can make “Moral Sense” a blessing or a curse.