In December, Andrea Ayvazian wrote a lovely column about the miracle of the human body. Her thoughtful piece reminded me of discussions I used to have with several third grade classes (I taught elementary school for over 35 years). I would pose the following situation:

“Imagine there is a field. In the field there are 5 human beings (you do not know them) and 5 mice. Unfortunately, 5 of these living beings have to die and 5 will survive. You need to decide which 5 will be saved.”

Don’t ask how I came up with this question and please ignore the possibility that, in some school systems today, I might be fired for bringing up death and killing with 8- and 9-year-olds!

Our discussions were serious, interesting, and often highly entertaining. I was and still am amazed by children’s abilities to think deeply about topics that inspire them.

Here are results (remembered, not tabulated) of these discussions. Out of an average class of 20 students:

■5 children would save all 5 humans beings.

■8 students would save 4 humans and 1 mouse.

■7 would save either 2 or 3 humans.

I told the students that I would save all 5 humans. After explaining my thinking, I asked the kids to explain theirs. The most common explanations can be paraphrased in these ways: “I think all living things are equal,” “Maybe some of the people were bad and robbed stores,” “Mice deserve to live, too,” “Maybe there are more people in the world than mice so we need to save some of them,” “I have a gerbil and I wouldn’t want it to die, so I’d save 1 mouse,” “I like mice.”

One year, explaining his opinion, Caleb asked me: “Do mice have thumbs?”

“No,” I answered, surprised and intrigued by the question.

“That’s why I would save 3 mice,” he said.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “What do you mean?”

“Well, think of what we do with our thumbs. We hold things. We pinch things. We grab things. Thumbs are very helpful, right?”

“Yes, I agree, Caleb. Absolutely. But what does that have to do with your decision?”

“Well. Mice don’t have thumbs to help them, do they? So they have a harder life than us. Probably much harder without thumbs. And since they have a harder life, we should feel bad for them and save a few.”

What could I say? I was left speechless.

(As an aside, this was not the first time Caleb had left me speechless. One afternoon, at recess, I overheard part of a conversation he was having with a few classmates. As I walked by, he said: “Just give me all your guilt. I’m a guilt-collector. I turn guilt into power.”) This from an 8-year-old boy! I never followed up with Caleb but never forgot his words.

All this leaves me thinking: Do we humans, in fact, lead easier lives than other members of the animal kingdom? Thumbs do help, yes. I would be hard-pressed to fingerpick “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” without my right one. But what else makes our lives easier? Keen senses, I suppose, but many animals have us beat when it comes to eyesight (eagles, owls, mantis shrimp, sheep), hearing (bats, elephants, dolphins), and sense of smell (sharks, bears, dogs and cats, snakes), just to name a few.

Humans have sex for the sole purpose of pleasure far more often than any other animal. Perhaps one can argue that having pleasurable experiences reduces anxiety and stress, making life easier. But we also possess strong long term memories, and thinking back on a few of my brief, intimate encounters doesn’t exactly make me want to dance in the streets!

Of course, it’s the human brain that truly separates us from our fellow inhabitants on the planet. Specifically, we are able to mentally manipulate information, anticipate and consider various possible outcomes, and exchange thoughts and ideas with members of our species. These abilities are important and often necessary in solving problems, avoiding dangerous situations, planning ahead, learning from others, advancing medical and technological knowledge, and creating cultural, political, and educational institutions.

Yes, we humans have done a lot with our brains, much of it in the name of “progress.” It’s difficult to imagine a world without automobiles, airplanes, libraries, televisions, hospitals, and so many other institutions and conveniences we rely upon on a daily basis. But we have also “progressed” in our adeptness at producing guns, bombs, and weapons of mass destruction, while our social and political constructs sometimes appear to be the products of imperfect or even faulty brains. You don’t see gorillas walking around with AK-47s. They know better.

This is not to say that we aren’t miraculous beings. Far from it. I may not relish some of my memories from the 1970s, but the fact that I can remember is truly incredible. Although arthritis is creeping in, I marvel at how the joints in my body afford me flexibility, and the ability to draw, play guitar, pedal a bicycle and take hikes.

No, dear Hamlet, I’m not sure we humans are “The paragon of animals.” But we are a young species. Maybe we need more time. In another 10 centuries or so, perhaps we will find even more uses for our thumbs and more sensible, compassionate ways to use our brains.

Gene Stamell twiddles his thumbs in Leverett. He can be reached at gstamell@gmail.com.]]>