No Stupid Questions 51. What Separates Humans From Other Animals?
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Dec 7, 2025 Explore the intriguing differences between human cognition and animal intelligence, as Stephen and Angela discuss pigs playing video games and the implications of their findings. They ponder what truly sets humans apart—goal-setting and future planning. The conversation takes a moral turn, considering whether intelligence should impact how we treat animals and the ethics of consuming meat. Finally, they tackle the quirky habit of pacing during phone calls, linking movement to cognitive benefits and stress relief.
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Pigs Playing Video Games
- Stephen describes a Penn State study where pigs learned joystick video tasks but some were terminated when they grew too large.
- Angela laughed and noted the small sample limits generalization about pig intelligence.
Reframe Stress As Readiness
- Reinterpret mild stress as adaptive eustress that readies you to perform.
- Frame bodily signs of stress as excitement to improve performance.
Human Future-Oriented Goal Setting
- Angela Duckworth argues humans uniquely set abstract, long-term goals and pursue distant future states.
- She contrasts pigeons' brief delay of gratification with humans saving in a 401(k).
