Understanding Dehumanization to Resist Dehumanization

Dr. David Livingstone Smith views understanding dehumanization that leads to moral atrocities as central to effectively resisting its harms.

In contrast to many other philosophical and psychological positions, Smith theorizes that to dehumanize people is to literally conceive of them as monstrous creatures, not merely lesser humans or animals. He argues that this can be true even if, paradoxically, the same people contemporaneously conceive of them as human.

Through rigorous analysis and compelling examples, Smith explores the causes of dehumanization — including sociohistorical factors, powerful propaganda that spreads fear of evil, and our very human psychological vulnerabilities to manipulation.