Arrogant Monkey

Since ancient times, humans have appointed themselves as the “measure of all things” and proclaimed that they are the most intelligent, moral, and capable beings on Earth. As a consequence, they have turned nature into a commodity, a simple resource. It is this belief in human superiority that underlies the current ecological crisis. Primatologist Christine Webb, who has dedicated years to studying the rich social, emotional, and cognitive lives of our closest living relatives, thoroughly investigates the phenomenon of anthropocentrism. She shows that human exceptionalism is a myth that relies more on human culture than on our biology, more on misconceptions than on scientific evidence, and outlines a more sensible approach to nature and to ourselves. “Arrogant Monkey” is just a mask that we should consciously discard.