Volume 23, Issue 1, 2010
Leslie Muray
Pages 34-41
Evolution and Human Uniqueness
In this article, the author argues against the notion of human uniqueness and seek to replace it with the concept of “human distinctiveness.” This concept allows us to see the distinction between humans and nonhumans not as absolute, the difference being one of degree not of kind. The author makes the argument using the process philosophy of A.N. Whitehead. Theologically, he seeks to extend the doctrine of the doctrine of the “imago dei,” the image of God, from human beings to nonhumans as well. Finally, the author makes use of the work D.R. Griffin, M. Beckoff, and F. DeWaal, who contends that there is culture among non human animals, in seeking scientific evidence for my arguments.