Comparing Humans And Animals In Aristotle's History Of Animals

In the book History of Animals by one of the best ancient Greek philosophers, Aristotle, he compares and contrasts how humans and animals share similar traits. Some animals show different qualities that are also shown in man. Aristotle states that “Just as in man we find knowledge, wisdom, and sagacity, so in certain animals there exists some other natural potentiality akin to these” (114). He gives examples of different habits and natural depositions in humans and animals. A few habits that animals and humans show a similarity in, is migration, natural adaptation, and hibernation. As people may know, humans don’t hibernate, but just like some animals conceal themselves in the cold, some humans choose to stay inside more in the winter time. When the weather changes and becomes warm again, those animals come out of hibernation (Aristotle, 125). Migration is another habit that animals and humans show similarities in. Some animals migrate far and some migrate near when weather changes (Aristotle, 122-123). Just like animals, some humans …show more content…
Socialization is a big role in anyone’s life. Just like humans, animals are “capable of giving or receiving instructions, of receiving it from one another or man” (Aristotle, 133). Animals tend to fight because of lack of food. When food is being constantly supplied they are calmer (Aristotle, 134). Another natural disposition in humans and animals are some have good tempers while others have bad tempers, just like other “similar dispositions of the mind (Aristotle, 134).” Aristotle says that sheep are said to be “dull and stupid,” whereas ants and spiders are more “resourceful than others” (136, 148). “As regards the disposition or temper of animals, […] one may detect great differences in respect to courage and timidity, as also, even among wild animals, in regard to tameness and wildness” (Aristotle,