“There is a chasm between humans and animals.”
How do you know this? It is contrary to all my 50 years of experience with animals and humans.
There is a highly observable chasm between animals and humans. Animals can do what we can't and vice versa. The main one is language and absence of innate behavior in humans.
Using one's own inner experience as the rule is solipsism. It basically denies the world around you. I can see why personal fancy can play a dominant role in such an approach.