Are Humanists species-ist?

The answer to this question is no. We are not. It is wrong to equate the thought that humans are pretty cool animals with the idea that we like humans above all other animals. Saying I am a Humanist is more akin to saying, As I am a human I might as well try to be the best human I can be. After all, it would be silly to try and be the best alligator I can be because, well, I’m not an alligator. For me, part of being the best human I can be is recognizing that as a human, I am also an animal. And as an animal, I am dependent on the ecosystem in which I live. It is in my best interest, as a human, to make sure my ecosystem is healthy. To do that, I need to nurture and protect all the other life that shares my ecosystem with me. Without them, I can’t survive. Call it enlightened self-interest if you like, but being a Humanist, to me, also means being an environmentalist and a conservationist. And yes, I am proud to be part of a species that is actually capable of this sort of thought.