The Apex Predator's Prerogative: Why Christine Webb's "Arrogant Ape" Misses the Mark on Human Exceptionalism, By Brian Simpson

Oh, the irony: A Harvard-bred primatologist swings from the ivy towers to declare humanity's self-regard a tragic flaw, the hubris fuelling our ecological Armageddon. Christine Webb's The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters (Avery, 2025) paints Homo sapiens as the villain in nature's Greek tragedy, blinded by anthropocentrism, commodifying the planet like it's a Black Friday blowout. Webb, fresh from NYU's anthro halls and her Harvard seminar roots, argues our "superiority complex" roots in Christian dominion, Shakespearean soliloquies, and even Darwin's descendants, leading to mass extinctions and melting ice caps. Humility, she prescribes: Recognize every species' "wondrous" uniqueness, ditch the exceptionalism, and maybe, just maybe, save the biosphere. It's a feel-good eco-manifesto wrapped in academic fleece, earning nods from Psychology Today's Marc Bekoff for its "strong case against human superiority" and a solid 3.8 on Goodreads from 68 early readers. But let's stir the pot: Webb's thesis is a romanticised retreat from reality, a primate's plea for parity that ignores the very exceptionalism driving human triumphs, from moon landings to disasters like the mRNA vaccines. Far from arrogance, our self-proclaimed pinnacle status is earned, essential, and, gasp, the key to fixing the messes she decries. Exceptionalism isn't the villain; it's the hero in disguise.

Webb's core beef? Anthropocentrism blinds us to nature's symphony, where every critter plays a unique tune. Dolphins? Smart as whips (just not on land, per her Onion quip). Elephants? Artistic maestros with trunks for brushes. Baboons and gorillas? Her field faves, showcasing empathy we'd envy if we weren't busy tweeting it. She traces our "arrogance" to Linnaeus dubbing us "wise men," Pope's mankind mandate, and evolutionists' confirmation bias, measuring apes with human yardsticks. Science, she says, absorbs this: Comparative studies rigged to affirm our edge, ignoring other species' "specialised adaptations." The upshot? Ecological havoc, 8 billion resource-hogging hominids treating Earth like a personal pantry. Publishers Weekly calls it a "persuasive and accessible critique," while EconTalk's Russ Roberts chats her up on how we're "overrated." Webb's remedy: Biophilia revival, humility injection, unlearning our "brainwashing" for true wisdom.

Stirring? Sure, if you're into self-flagellation. But Webb's narrative crumbles under scrutiny. First, her "myth" of exceptionalism is a straw man swinging from a low branch. No one's denying other species' quirks, octopuses camouflage like ninjas, birds migrate by starlight. But equating that to human feats? It's false equivalence on steroids. We alone ponder our pondering: Philosophy, symphonies, quantum computing, traits not just unique but universe-altering. Webb concedes our rockets and book talks, yet dismisses them as "exalted" overkill. Satirically? It's like calling Einstein's relativity "arrogant" because pigeons navigate magnetically. Human exceptionalism isn't hubris; it's hard fact. Without it, we'd be foraging in forests, not forging fusion reactors.

Critique deeper: Webb's eco-apocalypse blame game overlooks exceptionalism's upside. That "technological prowess" she scorns? It's birthed solar panels, rewilding projects, and CRISPR-ed crops feeding billions without razing rainforests. The NYT's William Egginton, in his review, notes Webb's "humbling realizations" but subtly defends: Humans' cultural evolution lets us transcend biology, innovating solutions animals can't dream of. Exceptionalism drives stewardship; think Teddy Roosevelt's national parks or Musk's Mars dreams as Earth's backup plan. Webb romanticises nature's "wondrous diversity" while ignoring its brutality: Predation, extinction without human help. Our "arrogance" lets us mitigate that. Humility? Noble, but overdone it breeds inaction. As Democracy Journal's review implies, Webb's call for parity risks undervaluing the very intellect tackling crises.

Webb's biases peek through: As a primatologist, she elevates apes' "empathy" (her baboon buddies) while downplaying human moral leaps, abolition, rights charters. Her "learned behaviour" claim? Kids' animal empathy is sweet, but so's their innate hierarchy, playgrounds prove we're wired for dominion. And science's "confirmation bias"? Pot, meet kettle: Webb's comparative studies cherry-pick animal "wonders" to humble us, ignoring human-only realms like abstract maths or ethical philosophy. Goodreads gripes echo this, some reviewers call it "preachy," a 3.7 average hinting at overreach. X posts mostly link the NYT review without deep digs, but one calls it "timely" eco-preach, hardly a counterpunch.

Defending exceptionalism: It's not entitlement; it's empowerment. Our "wise man" moniker? Earned through fire mastery, agriculture, public health slashing infant mortality. Without it, Webb's book wouldn't exist, no printing press, no Harvard forums. Exceptionalism fuels progress: From stone tools to Starlink, we've bent nature not just to exploit, but to enhance. The crisis? Overpopulation and greed, sure, but solvable via exceptional brains: Fusion energy, vertical farms, carbon capture. Webb's humility cure risks eco-stagnation, hug trees while tech laggards like China coal-belch unchecked.

Stirred yet? Webb's "arrogant ape" is a mirror we need, but cracked: Exceptionalism isn't myth; it's mojo. Embrace it responsibly, dominion with duty, and we'll ape our way to salvation. Otherwise? Back to the branches, folks. Who's the real tragic hero? The one who innovates, or the one who self-sabotages?

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