Human Exceptionalism

So... Human exceptionalism. The idea that humans are naturally or intrinsically better than any other species anywhere.

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Recently, I was shocked to find out that people not only have this idea in their heads, but they are proud to uphold the idea. I never really considered that anyone could be proud of such an idea, since, to me, saying humans are better than any other species is the same as saying that whites are better than any other race out there.

I've heard multiple arguments for the idea, but all of them are lacking. The more reasonable arguments I've heard are as follows:

Humans are more intelligent
Humans do more for the world
Humans are different than any other animal

The first is the most common. It claims humans are more intelligent, therefore, we are worth more. Founded on the two premises: Humans are more intelligent than animals. Intelligence is value.

The first is more than likely true. The second, however, is not. We try to claim that what we are best at, intelligence, is what determines worth. Why though, should intelligence equal worth? Why not adaptability? Or survivability? Why not speed or size? Why not apex predator status?

The premise is flawed. It tries to define what worth is, in order to prove we have the most worth. It doesn't try to define worth to find out what does have the most worth.

The second argument is also flawed. Humans do not do more for the world. In general, humans harm the world more than most other species. The argument is really saying, humans do more for ourselves than any other species, which seems obvious, but should not be used to determine actual worth, although it could define relative worth. That is, we are worth more to ourselves than other species.

But even that isn't true. Many humans are not useful to others. Some actively harm us. Yet, according to the idea of human exceptionalism, they are worth more than, for example, a rescue dog, who may do far more for us than even a normal productive person would.

And finally, the idea that humans are different than any other animal. Much like the first, except this one claims uniqueness is value. Again, much like the first, it disregards uniqueness of other species. It looks at similarities between animals to claim they are the same, and disregards human similarities to animals.

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Really, at it's core, we are driven biologically to believe we are special among all others. It's a mindset that must exist so that we can thrive as a species. However, it's not backed by reasoning. It's the same feeling that gave rise to racism, still in existence.