CategoryHuman exceptionalism
Do Humans and Chimpanzees Differ by Only 1 Percent?
Of course not, but now that a more likely genetics figure has been published, some researchers are having a surprisingly hard time accepting it
IVF Clinic Bomber Infected by Anti-Humanism
According to media reports, Bartkus, who died at the scene, was a “‘pro-mortalist’ (believing death is preferable to living) or an ‘anti-natalist’ (believing no more human beings should be born).”
A Challenge to Pale Blue Dot-ology: Earth Is Significant
The “pale blue dot lost in space” view of Earth seems to brand science as an intellectual property of materialist atheism. And evidence isn’t what keeps it going
ET Doesn’t Need to Exist in Order to Do His Real Job
His real job seems to be to support a lame argument about why humans are not exceptional. But the very idea of his existence works just as well
Why Life Beyond Earth Would Prove Human Exceptionalism
A science writer thinks that finding life on other planets in our galaxy would somehow put a dent in our “self-importance”
The Nature of Mind, Free Will, and Human Uniqueness: A Deep Dive
The book Minding the Brain sparks some interesting discussions about what is really unique about the human mind
At Quanta: High Bird Intelligence Developed on a Different Path
High intelligence developing on different paths is consistent with convergent evolution. It’s also consistent with design in nature
At a Science Journal: Humanity Is Just So Doomed
Opinions differ as to the details of what will wipe us all out — or maybe not
In Moral Terms, Are Microbes More Important Than People?
Jeff Sebo advocates widening the moral circle to include, plants, microbes, and computers in a sort of radical equality
Clinical Psychologist Defends Human Exceptionalism
Gregg Henriques is responding to an evolutionary biologist who sees recognition of human uniqueness as “speciesism,” akin to racism and sexism
Defining an Ape Theory of Mind Into Existence
We are told that “recognizing when someone else lacks information” has been thought to be a distinctly human trait. Really?
Vice President Vance Defends Human Exceptionalism at Munich
The idea that humans are special is under increasing attack by some of society’s most powerful political and cultural forces
Science Writing: Cat Intelligence Compared With Baby Intelligence
Cat intelligence is of a rather different kind from dog intelligence
Science Writing: Dog Intelligence Compared With Baby Intelligence
It’s an odd question because what we should be asking is, “Are kittens and puppies smarter than babies?”
The Subtle Ways That Science Writing Erases Human Exceptionalism
Stone tool use among animals versus the Stone Age provides a useful illustration of the tendency
Liberal Prof: Intelligent Design Is Not Just for Conservatives
Robert Shedinger’s findings certainly changed his perception of the nature of the controversy over Darwinism
Neanderthals Used a “High Tech” Method for Making Glue
High tech for the times they lived in, that is. They had to figure out why the lower tech method got poor results and develop a more sophisticated one
At SciAm: When did human ancestors start using stone tools?
Setting aside the question of whether the various groups mentioned in the article are in fact our ancestors, stone tool use is not even confined to primates