EconTalk

Humans Are Overrated (with Christine Webb)

97 snips
Sep 1, 2025
Christine Webb, an NYU primatologist and author of The Arrogant Ape, critiques human exceptionalism and explores the rich inner lives of animals. She challenges the belief in human superiority, advocating for recognition of the intelligence of other species. Webb shares insights from her research that reveal the complex social structures and emotions in primates. The conversation also highlights the need for a deeper connection with nature, emphasizing cooperation over competition and the importance of humility in our ecological relationships.
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INSIGHT

Human Exceptionalism Fuels Ecological Harm

  • Human exceptionalism encourages treating other life as mere resources and drives ecological harm.
  • Christine Webb argues that seeing ourselves as separate enables exploitation and ecological crisis.
INSIGHT

Biased Tests Mislead About Animal Cognition

  • Comparative cognition studies bias conclusions by using unrepresentative samples and tasks.
  • Webb highlights that testing captive chimpanzees on human tasks unfairly favors humans and distorts results.
ANECDOTE

Baboon 'Bear' Shows Appeasement And Understanding

  • Webb recounts being appeased by a juvenile baboon named Bear who displayed a pacifying grimace.
  • She interprets the act as Bear understanding the prior conflict and trying to make amends, showing theory of mind.
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