Humanize From Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism
Topic

human exceptionalism

studio-portrait-of-human-and-dog-eyes-pets-concept-stockpack-254240000-stockpack-adobe_stock
studio portrait of human and dog eyes. pets concept
Image Credit: Eva - Adobe Stock

On Human Exceptionalism

The following is an article by Gregg Henriques, originally published at Psychology Today. Henriques brings attention to the arguments for human exceptionalism, and highlights the work of Wesley J. Smith, Chair and Senior Fellow of Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. Imagine you are driving down the street, and from the left side of the road, a dog runs out in front of you. You begin to swerve to avoid it when you see that on your right is a young girl. If you continue to swerve, you will hit her. But if you don’t keep swerving, you will run the dog over. What do you do? As brutal as the choice is, the vast majority of people would say Read More ›

Vice_President_JD_Vance_is_sworn_in_Wikimedia_Commons
Public domain image from the Executive Office of the President of the United States: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vice_President_JD_Vance_is_sworn_in_(01).jpg

Vice President Vance Defends Human Exceptionalism at Munich

Vice President JD Vance made news in Munich by accusing the European political elite of not really believing in democracy. But another line stood out for me that I think is also worth noting. Vance defended the unique dignity of human life. From the speech: Contrary to what you might hear a couple mountains over in Davos, the citizens of all of our nations don’t generally think of themselves as educated animals or as interchangeable cogs of a global economy. It’s just one sentence in a 20-minute speech. But I think it is important and urge the vice president to expand upon that thought because human exceptionalism is under increasing attack by some of society’s most powerful political and cultural Read More ›

family-spending-time-together-stockpack-adobe-stock-178927135-stockpack-adobe_stock
family spending time together
Image Credit: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - Adobe Stock

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 ›

Wesley J. Smith World Magazine image

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 ›

humans-hand-planting-single-plant-plants-survival-in-the-drought-inspiring-actions-to-save-the-world-eco-friendly-concept-life-in-the-arid-landscape-hope-for-a-greener-future-stockpack-adobe-stock
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.
Image Credit: sawitreelyaon - Adobe Stock

“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 ›
african-american-gardener-looking-at-freshly-picked-from-the-ground-golden-beets-at-community-communal-garden-stockpack-adobe-stock
african american gardener looking at freshly picked from the ground golden beets at community communal garden
Image Credit: Joshua Resnick - Adobe Stock

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 ›
young-couple-sitting-at-a-table-on-a-desert-dune-while-talking-relaxing-and-observing-the-stars-and-the-milky-way-above-them-stockpack-adobe-stock
young couple sitting at a table on a desert dune while talking, relaxing and observing the stars and the milky way above them
Image Credit: ylenia cancelli - Adobe Stock

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 ›
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
Image Credit: Tiago Fernandez - Adobe Stock

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 ›
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
Image Credit: Tiago Fernandez - Adobe Stock

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 ›