Human-supremacist
A human-supremacist is an individual who believes in the inherent superiority of the human species, often to the exclusion or detriment of other life forms, particularly non-human animals and, sometimes, AI or other technological entities. This belief can manifest in a variety of ways, including the prioritization of human interests above all others, the denial of rights or consideration to non-human entities, and a justification for exploitation or domination. It is often linked to anthropocentrism, the philosophical view that humans are the most important beings in the universe. This ideology can influence decisions regarding resource allocation, environmental policy, scientific research, and ethical considerations concerning animal welfare and potential interactions with advanced technologies, resulting in a perspective that often diminishes the value of non-human life and entities.
Human-supremacist meaning with examples
- The company's CEO, a self-proclaimed human-supremacist, justified their unsustainable logging practices by stating that the economic benefits to humans outweighed the environmental consequences for the rainforest and its animal inhabitants, arguing that human needs always come first regardless.
- Critics accused the government of promoting a human-supremacist agenda by heavily investing in technologies that solely benefit humans, like advanced weaponry, while neglecting funding for research into animal conservation and environmental protection, demonstrating a bias towards human needs.
- The philosopher’s arguments against animal rights were rooted in a human-supremacist framework, claiming that only humans possess consciousness and moral agency, therefore denying non-human animals the same rights or moral consideration, establishing an unassailable human bias.
- The dystopian novel depicted a future where genetically enhanced humans, believing in their human-supremacist destiny, exploited and enslaved genetically modified animals and lower-class humans as a means to their own prosperity, showing an extreme application of the ideology.
- The debate regarding AI ethics saw the emergence of human-supremacist arguments, with some scientists and policymakers advocating for limiting AI's development based on fears about AI becoming a threat to human dominance and their position at the top of the hierarchy, creating a divide.