"Human Exceptionalism" Exceptionally Arrogant

Published July 16, 2009 @ 12:35PM PT

Friends, I've landed in Los Angeles, and I'm now writing to you from a hotel lobby computer while waiting to check in. I have a lovely story to share with you later tonight or tomorrow morning about the flight here, but in the meantime, please enjoy this smart, thoughtful guest post from Tracy Habenicht, author of the always thought-provoking blog Digging Through the Dirt. -S. Ernst

For hundreds of years white men have lived as if the Earth and its inhabitants and resources were theirs for the taking.

Animals were beneath them, people of color were reduced to "savages," and the land was stripped and degraded. White men placed themselves on the top rung of the planet's hierarchy.

Much of that belief exists today in the form of "human exceptionalism," what "bioethicist" and animal-rights opponent Wesley J. Smith defines as "the view that ultimate moral value comes with being a member of the human species."

Women and people of color are now included next to white men, at least by definition, but animals and nature are still looked down upon.

Animal rights, of course, is at odds with human exceptionalism. While animal rights supporters believe that animals exist for their own reasons and shouldn't be used by people (for food, clothing, entertainment, etc.), human exceptionalism contends that people have a right to use animals as we wish, provided we do so "humanely" -- whatever that means.

The concept of human exceptionalism is exceptionally arrogant. Yes, people have accomplished a lot throughout history, both technologically and artistically, and it's fine to view ourselves as unique. But to think we are the best creatures on the planet is absurd.

We are the one animal who destroys its surroundings instead of being able to live with nature. A human exceptionalist would accuse me -- and all animal-rights supporters -- of being "anti-human" but far from it.

Unlike human exceptionalists, animal-rights activists realize that animal rights and human rights are not mutually exclusive.

If advocates win rights for animals, then the longstanding notion of "human exceptionalism is over," [Smith] said, and with it the idea of human rights.

Human exceptionalism may end -- and good riddance -- but the notion of human rights will remain.

In fact, animal-rights activists support human rights. Many advocate on behalf of animals while also supporting the advancement of rights for people -- gay rights, women's rights, civil rights, workers' rights, etc. And people whose primary focus is human rights can support animal rights daily simply by not eating animals.

In his book "Animal Rights/Human Rights," sociology professor David Nibert argues that human oppression of animals "is motivated primarily by economic interests and, what is more, that it is profoundly and permanently entwined with human oppression of other humans."

Just as animal rights and human rights are connected, all the inhabitants of the Earth are interconnected. We all are valuable and unique. People have some abilities that nonhuman animals likely will never have. On the other hand, though, animals have abilities that people likely never will.

For example, a mother hen can communicate with her chicks while they are still in their eggs -- and the chicks chirp responses.

Of course, people have more power than animals -- at least when we have guns and cages. But that's all the more reason that it's our duty to protect them from harm. Being compassionate doesn't take away from our uniqueness as people; in fact, it adds to our humanity.

It's time for people to become a little more humble, to realize we don't have all the answers, to recognize our interdependence with animals and nature.

We can -- and should -- celebrate the positive traits of being human. But we should also recognize that all living beings are exceptional in their own ways.

---
Photo courtesy of AnimalSuffering.com.

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Comments (7)

Excellent blog entry. Thank you for writing this, Tracy. And thank you for mentioning David Nibert and his book, which have influenced me tremendously in my views on animal rights/human rights.

-Jeannie

Posted by Jeannie - on 07/16/2009 @ 07:07PM PT
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Great post - this truly is the at core of our beliefs - I would love some advice on how to argue this point of view to those who come from a religious background who believe they are above animals and nature and that we were given "dominion" over everything...

I think one of the main reasons that this argument never goes far is because of certain religions (I'm not pointing fingers). Because our country and most people are so entrenched in this belief I fear that our cause will never reach its true realization.

Posted by Kristen Magno on 07/17/2009 @ 05:45AM PT
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I highly recommend the book "Dominion: the Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals and the Call to Mercy" by Matthew Scully. It is a beautifully written book in which the author very eloquently argues that humanity's 'dominion' over animals does not give us the right to abuse them, but rather calls us to be merciful towards them. The HSUS' Animals & Religion website also has information about this topic: www.hsus.org/religion

Posted by Kathleen Chapman on 08/23/2009 @ 02:38AM PT
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"Being compassionate doesn't take away from our uniqueness as people; in fact, it adds to our humanity."

Similar to Gandhi's quote about our moral progress being linked to the way we treat our animals. Very well written Tracy!

Kristen, I wrote on the subject of religion and animal rights a couple months ago for the local newspaper. Here's an excerpt:

"But just because the Bible isn’t compassionate towards animals doesn’t mean that we can’t be. The good book also sanctions war, slavery, polygamy, the killing of homosexuals and the oppression of women, all of which are quite unpopular today.

If we stop using the Bible to justify animal exploitation, and started promoting kindness and respect for all of God's creation, we might just acheive something most of us thought was impossible - peace on Earth."

Hope this helps!

Posted by Daniel Wilson on 07/17/2009 @ 06:14AM PT
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A great article.

Posted by Mary Ann Clark on 07/17/2009 @ 08:07AM PT
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"Being compassionate doesn't take away from our uniqueness as people; in fact, it adds to our humanity."

I absolutely, whole-heartedly, agree with this! Wonderful.

Posted by Lisa Smolen on 07/17/2009 @ 06:57PM PT
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At the very least, being humane would dictate doing away with our major animal exploitation industries, since in those cases animals are harmed for human pleasure and profit, and the harm is easily avoidable. Mr. Smith's "exceptionalism" seems to be nothing more than making flimsy, self-serving exceptions to being moral and kind.

I agree with the sentiment expressed by you and other commenters: Why not be exceptional in terms of compassion, humility, and generosity to all? That I could be proud of.

Posted by Gary Loewenthal on 07/23/2009 @ 03:11PM PT
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Author

Tracy Habenicht is an editor and animal-rights activist living in the Chicago area. Her blog "Digging Through the Dirt" seeks to dispel the myths surrounding animal rights, the environment and people's health.