Rethinking Human Exceptionalism: The Animal Within

In a recent article on doppiozero, Maurizio Corrado explores the philosophical and scientific shift in understanding humans as animals. The piece, published on August 21, 2026, argues that while the idea that 'we are animals' is simple, its practical implications are profoundly complex. Corrado contends that this perspective challenges millennia of human self-perception, which has been shaped by both evolutionary science placing humans at the apex of the chain and by the three major monotheistic religions viewing humans as created in God's image. He suggests that a cognitive leap occurring over 50,000 years ago may have led Homo sapiens to develop a sense of distinctiveness from other animals, which eventually morphed into a sense of superiority. The article calls for a difficult transition in mindset, moving from this ingrained sense of superiority to a more integrated view of humanity within the animal kingdom. Corrado emphasizes that the realization of this shift in perspective is extremely challenging, requiring the dismantling of deep-seated mental habits. The piece is part of a broader cultural discourse on post-humanism and ecological thought, reflecting contemporary debates in philosophy and cultural criticism.