The Arrogance of Antihumanism

Abstract

185 One may have such a low opinion of the human race that the phrase "live and let live," applied to the ecosphere as a whole, is considered incompatible with deep, specific human interests. Permit me to suggest that the attitude expressed by "live and let live," in the broadest and deepest sense, is specific to human beings. Up to this point, we know of no other life-form in the universe whose nature is such that, under favorable circumstances, it would more or less inevitably develop a broad and deep concern for life conditions in general. Human beings have a sufficient natural endowment such that they can perceive and enjoy their kinship with living beings of the most diverse kinds, and care for them. To realize their total potentialities, mature human beings need communities that permit them to live out their full capacities for identification with other life-forms. Under unfavorable social conditions, human capacities for identification do not manifest themselves. There is, however, sufficient empirical evidence to show that people in our industrial societies who are reared and educated under appropriate conditions do develop attitudes of the kind expressed in deep ecology. This occurs without their being necessarily deficient or immature in other human ways. If we focus our attention unduly on the crudest behavior of human beings , we are tempted to form an unfavorable image of human nature. This focus tends to lead some authors to postulate that the domination and exploitation of nature are inherent in the nature of human beings, that the