“The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why it Matters,” with Christine Webb

Darwin considered humans one part of the web of life, not the apex of a natural hierarchy. Yet today many maintain that we are the most intelligent, virtuous, successful species that ever lived. This flawed thinking enables us to exploit the earth towards our own exclusive ends, throwing us into a perilous planetary imbalance. But is this view and way of life inevitable? In this talk, moderated by LEAP Faculty Director Doug Kysar, New York University primatologist Christine Webb, author of "The Arrogant Ape," will outline how human exceptionalism is an ideology that relies more on human culture than our biology, exposing many scientific studies’ biases against other species and revealing underappreciated complexities of nonhuman life. 

Christine Webb is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at New York University, where she is part of the Animal Studies program. Her research is driven by growing awareness that the ecological crisis demands a profound shift in how we understand other animals and our place among them, leading to two intersecting lines of inquiry. First, her work seeks to elucidate the complex dynamics of animal social life, and to apply this knowledge to foundational questions in animal ethics and conservation. Second, she is interested in how prevailing societal norms, values, and institutions shape contemporary scientific knowledge of other animals and the environment more generally. Prior to joining NYU, Professor Webb was a Lecturer & Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate at Harvard University’s Department of Human Evolutionary Biology.

This event is part of the Law, Environment & Animals Program Fall 2025 Speaker Series. Lunch will be provided.