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Mission statement


What makes us human? What is it about our nature that allows us to create and destroy like no other animal? This site brings together a variety of views on humanity, how we give life to powerful ideas and sometimes use this power to take life away. To reduce human suffering, we must understand why humans, in some situations, cause such suffering, and why victims often lack the resources to fight back. I believe that the mind sciences have much to contribute to this discussion, and much to learn from those working in the humanitarian disciplines. Join the iHumanitarian movement. Nothing could be more important than our universal well-being.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

dehumanization: trigger to genocide

Scholars in theology, philosophy, history, political science, and anthropology have long recognized the importance of dehumanization in both triggering and sustaining genocide. Few of these scholars have, however, looked to the mounting empirical research on this topic. This is unfortunate. The sciences can help move us beyond a description of dehumanization -- unquestioned --  to a set of predictions concerning when it will arise, which kinds of people are most likely to lead the charge and which are most likely to follow like bleating sheep.