Philosophy
David Livingstone Smith
Subhuman
The holocaust, genocides, atomic bombings, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… Why do humans brutally attack their fellow beings? Philosopher David L. Smith attributes this to 'dehumanization,' a concept he defines as the mindset of regarding others as less than human.
Lesson Plan
- Lesson Length : 15 Lessons ㆍ 1 hours 42 miutes
- Language : 한국어, English
Exploring the phenomenon of "dehumanization"
Dehumanization is prevalent globally, illustrated by examples such as Russians labeling Ukrainians 'parasitic worms' and former President Trump calling illegal immigrants an 'infestation.' Smith explains that dehumanization begins when people start seeing others as subhuman, using terms like cockroaches, rats, and monsters. This leads to a moral delusion of defending 'humanity' against these 'debased beings.' The proliferation of media channels like print, radio, and the Internet has facilitated the spread of dehumanization, making it easier to rally the public into participating in this process.
Smith emphasizes the universal vulnerability to dehumanization, highlighting that anyone can be a perpetrator or a victim. He urges the importance of recognizing and resisting dehumanization and propaganda.
Full Bio
David Livingstone Smith
- Professor of Philosophy, University of New England, USA
- Speaker at the 2012 G20 Summit event, "RETHINKING G20: Designing the Future”
- Winner of the 2012 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Nonfiction
- Council for Global Cooperation’s Advisory Chair of the vertex of Genocide, Holocaust, and Disaster Studies
Philosopher David L. Smith has explored various issues threatening humanity, traversing disciplines like law, anthropology, psychology, and history. His in-depth study of dehumanization began in 2006 after encountering World War II propaganda that labeled the enemy as 'vermin,' 'beasts,' and 'game for sport.' At that time, dehumanization was a rarely studied topic in academia. Smith emerged as one of the first philosophers in the Anglo-American sphere to analyze dehumanization, delving into human history, psychology, and social culture.
His 2011 book, 'Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others,' defined dehumanization and garnered global attention. He presented on dehumanization and collective violence at the 2012 G20 Summit and currently serves as the Advisory Chair for Genocide, Holocaust, and Disaster Studies at the Council for Global Cooperation. Smith cautions against the dangers of dehumanization in the impending climate crisis, believing that the practice of philosophy is vital to saving humanity from this challenge.
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