Mike,
There's a really excellent speech done by Dr. Robert Sapolsky during a conference called "Brain, Mind, and Emergence" at Stanford U. in 2003. Sapolsky is a neuroendocrinologist.
His entire talk is all about what makes humans special, as compared to other animals. His answer is in the same vain as this recent post of yours--that, yes, we're special, no, it isn't due to unique traits, but rather due to the degree and application of these non-unique traits. He goes in depth with many examples which he knows from his own research and reading. His conclusion is one which is harmonious between known historical evidence (i.e. evolution) and your view.
Here's the reference:
Sapolsky, Robert, (2003). The Biology of Our Uniqueness. [In Becoming Human: Brain, Mind and Emergence] [online] Stanford University Available from
No webpage found at provided URL: http://www.counterbalance.net/stanford/sapolsky-body.html.
I would encourage all here to take a look. It's 40 minutes of fascinating science and interesting perspective. The man's an engaging speaker, and I enjoyed every minute of the talk.
Ben
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