.. Defication of humankind as supreme. 
( ( ( . . ) ( Defication ( of ( humankind ( as supreme ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (NP (NP (NNP .) (. .)) (NP (NP (NNP Defication)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN humankind)) (PP (IN as) (NP (JJ supreme)))))) (. .)))
Several other living things can be thought of as having a higher purpose. 
( ( Several ( other ( living things ) ) ) ( ( can ( be ( thought ( of ( as ( having ( a ( higher purpose ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (JJ Several) (JJ other) (NN living) (NNS things)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN thought) (PP (IN of) (PP (IN as) (S (VP (VBG having) (NP (DT a) (JJR higher) (NN purpose))))))))) (. .)))