Philosopher Katie Ebner-Landy on human nature. Why and how should we understand it?

Can we really rely on the idea of human nature in a world marked by vast cultural variation? Even a simple mention of the concept reminds us of how it has been used to denigrate other people, cultures, and species in the past. During the Utrecht Night of Philosophy 2026, philosopher Katie Ebner-Landy (UU) argues that, despite its flaws, we cannot do away with the concept. What conception of human nature, then, might avoid the violence to which it has been put?