Human species

Malcolm's reply was immediate: "What makes you think human beings are sentinent and aware ? There is no evidence of it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told - and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but uniquely in animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs'. The reason is that belief guide behaviour, which has evolutional importance among human beings. But at a time when our behaviour may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion. Next question.

From The Lost World, by Michael Crichton