Are Humans Unique?
Al Mohler argues rightly, here, that this is a question which science is not capable of answering. This discussion was prompted by an article in The New Scientist by Christine Kenneally in which she states:
THERE was a time when we thought humans were special in so many ways. Now we know better. We are not the only species that feels emotions, empathises with others or abides by a moral code. Neither are we the only ones with personalities, cultures and the ability to design and use tools. Yet we have steadfastly clung to the notion that one attribute, at least, makes us unique: we alone have the capacity for language… Alas, it turns out we are not so special in this respect either.
Science continues to “tell us” that humans are not essentially any different than any other animal in the world. We are not unique or special in any substantive sense. The question that needs to be asked is, “Is science capable of answering such a question?” The only answer that could possible come from modern naturalistic science is, “No!” Mohler states:
The methodological worldview of secular science is naturalistic materialism. Evolution stands at the center of that worldview and evolution can sustain no argument for a categorical distinction between humans and other animals. What quickly becomes clear is the fact that functional definitions of human uniqueness cannot sustain a claim of human dignity.
There is certainly something common-sensical about the assertion that humans are in some significant way unique from other animals. The affirmation of this intuitive sense of human uniqueness is accounted for by the biblical perspective that man is made uniquely in the image of God. From a naturalistic perspective, there is no accounting for such uniqueness. In fact, there is a denial of any ultimate distinction between man and “lower” animals. As Mohler states:
The Christian worldview offers the only sustainable foundation for human dignity. The Christian truth claim, grounded in the Bible, claims that human dignity is ontological (based merely in the human being’s existence) rather than functional. According to this worldview, every single human being is equally created in the image of God. The other creatures are wondrous and each reveals the glory of God in its own way, but no other creature is created in the image of God. To be human is to be a bearer of God’s image. Thus, every single human being possesses full human dignity.
The concept of human rights emerged from the Christian worldview. Any attempt to ground human rights in a secular concept of human uniqueness is, as we have seen, doomed to failure or fatal weakness. Current debates about animal rights and even plant rights are symptoms of a dangerous intellectual disease. The denial of basic human rights to some human beings is tragic evidence that the disease is spreading.