Humanize From Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism
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human exceptionalism

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family spending time together

Progressive Columnist Almost Embraces Sanctity of Human Life

It is always good to see someone wrestling with truth. A progressive columnist in The Guardian writes about how she is coming to understand that human life has intrinsic dignity, but she doesn’t quite understand why. Still, something very important is stirring within her. From, “I Am a Rational Liberal, Yet a Question about the Sanctity of Life Floored Me,” by Sonia Sodha: Liberalism has much to offer, but there are risks in embracing it as an overarching political philosophy without a degree of humility about its shortcomings: its hollow silence over how to navigate knotty ethical issues where society needs some kind of shared understanding. This queasiness about morality means liberals sometimes look the other way when others smuggle Read More ›

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The Case for Human Exceptionalism

As a committed defender of human exceptionalism, I am often asked what that term means. Primarily, our moral value is intrinsic as a matter of objective worth. It need not be earned by possessing talents, traits, or characteristics. We are all equal. Human exceptionalism also appeals to our unique capacity for moral agency: Only humans have duties — to treat each other respectfully and protect the vulnerable, to husband animals humanely, and to make responsible use of the environment. In other words, humans understand right from wrong and have a duty to act accordingly. Four books helped me develop this understanding. Peril of Denying Our Humanity I enjoy science fiction, for both entertainment and the prophetic possibilities of the genre. No Read More ›

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Human's hand planting single plant , plant's survival in the drought, Inspiring actions to save the world, eco-friendly concept, life in the arid landscape, hope for a greener future.

“Plant Philosophy” Denigrates Human Uniqueness

Lately, as scientists unlock the complexity of plant biology, we are witnessing equivalent advocacy with regard to plants. The latest example of such radical anthropomorphizing comes to us in a long article just published in Aeon that discusses "plant philosophy." Read More ›
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african american gardener looking at freshly picked from the ground golden beets at community communal garden

Again with the ‘Plants Are Intelligent’ Nonsense

Periodically, the mainstream media focus on advocacy for the idea that plants are intelligent and/or moral beings. For example, the New York Times ran a column some years back asserting that peas are persons. Why? Pea plants release chemicals in the soil that alert other pea plants of drought conditions. Read More ›
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young couple sitting at a table on a desert dune while talking, relaxing and observing the stars and the milky way above them

Asking Questions Demonstrates Human Exceptionalism

One of the unique attributes of humans is that we ask questions. Not just straightforward questions, like “What’s for dinner?” but deep questions, like “What is the meaning of life?”  Read More ›
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Elephant in the savannah, in Namibia, Africa, concept for traveling in Africa and Safari

Court Rules Elephant Does Not Have Rights

I have written here several times about the attempt by the Nonhuman Rights Project (NHRP) to “break the species barrier” by having animals declared “persons” entitled to enforceable rights. The first cases involved chimps. The latest attempt involved Happy the elephant, a denizen of the Bronx Zoo. Read More ›
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Elephant in the savannah, in Namibia, Africa, concept for traveling in Africa and Safari

Why Happy the Elephant Should Not Have Rights

Promoting the proper care of animals is a noble cause. But that is not what the legal effort to have Happy declared a ‘person’ is ultimately all about. Read More ›
elephant-in-the-savannah-in-namibia-africa-concept-for-traveling-in-africa-and-safari-stockpack-adobe-stock
Elephant in the savannah, in Namibia, Africa, concept for traveling in Africa and Safari

Elephants Are Better ‘Persons’ Than People!

If we lower ourselves from the unique species to just another animal in the forest, that is precisely how we will act. Read More ›
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Discovery Institute Fellow Speaks at the D.C. 40 Days for Life Kickoff Rally

On Monday, October 4, 2021,  Arina Grossu, Fellow with the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism, spoke at the Washington D.C. 40 Days for Life campaign Kickoff Rally, focusing her remarks on how the pro-life movement is seeing the beginning of the end of Roe v. Wade.  Read More ›