Re:We’re Not So Special: A new book challenges human excepti...
by latexr on Wednesday August 20, 2025 @06:20AM
(#44960543)
> What we’re exceptional at is survival.
Don’t worry, we’re correcting that in record time. Though it would have been nice to not destroy so many species along with us.
> To the point where as few as 1% of our species even needs to think about making food.
And the rest would just die, unable to find food, if left alone in the wilderness.
> What I question about this rhetoric is using human-developed moral frameworks
The idea of exceptionalism is also human-developed, so as soon as you want to go that route no argument in this conversation matters.
> The reality of it is that we are clearly among the most successful species.
Successful at good things and bad things. Including bad for us. You don’t really see other species developing whole profit industries to knowingly market and sell cancer on sticks, for example.
> undermining our own achievements and romanticizing other species
That argument cuts both ways. It’s perfectly fair to say someone with your view is undermining the harm we cause and romanticising our achievements.
> being less successful at surviving
None of us can survive indefinitely under water, or in radiation, or in the vacuum of space. Yet we know of other species who do. Humans are exceptionally frail, considering. After we’re gone, other species will remain. We won’t be so impressive then.
Don’t worry, we’re correcting that in record time. Though it would have been nice to not destroy so many species along with us.
> To the point where as few as 1% of our species even needs to think about making food.
And the rest would just die, unable to find food, if left alone in the wilderness.
> What I question about this rhetoric is using human-developed moral frameworks
The idea of exceptionalism is also human-developed, so as soon as you want to go that route no argument in this conversation matters.
> The reality of it is that we are clearly among the most successful species.
Successful at good things and bad things. Including bad for us. You don’t really see other species developing whole profit industries to knowingly market and sell cancer on sticks, for example.
> undermining our own achievements and romanticizing other species
That argument cuts both ways. It’s perfectly fair to say someone with your view is undermining the harm we cause and romanticising our achievements.
> being less successful at surviving
None of us can survive indefinitely under water, or in radiation, or in the vacuum of space. Yet we know of other species who do. Humans are exceptionally frail, considering. After we’re gone, other species will remain. We won’t be so impressive then.