Is there a word for "put something to a lower form/level/grade (than it should be)"?

All I can think of are

• reduce
• cast something low

But I would like to assert the sense that the object deserves more recognition or value.

For example, to a friend who describes humans as mere animals whose behavior is dictated and predicted by biological and evolutionary principles,

You reduce human race to a mere conglomerate of biological and evolutionary rules.

in the sense that the statement puts something in a lower position, not giving its full value.

Is there a word for "put something to a lower form/level/grade (than it should be)"?

All I can think of are

• reduce
• cast something low

But I would like to assert the sense that the object deserves more recognition or value.

For example, to a friend who describes humans as mere animals whose behavior is dictated and predicted by biological and evolutionary principles,

You reduce the human race to a mere conglomerate of biological and evolutionary rules.

in the sense that the statement puts something in a lower position, not giving its full value.

Is there a word for "put something to a lower form/level/grade(than it should be)"?

All I can think of are

reduce
cast something low

But I would like to assert the sense that the object deserves more recognition or value.

For example, to a friend who describes humans as mere animals whose behavior is dictated and predicted by biological and evolutionary principles,

You reduce human race to a mere conglomerate of biological and evolutionary rules.

in the sense that the statement puts something in a lower position, not giving its full value.

Is there a word for "put something to a lower form/level/grade  (than it should be)"?

All I can think of are

• reduce
• cast something low

But I would like to assert the sense that the object deserves more recognition or value.

For example, to a friend who describes humans as mere animals whose behavior is dictated and predicted by biological and evolutionary principles,

You reduce human race to a mere conglomerate of biological and evolutionary rules.

in the sense that the statement puts something in a lower position, not giving its full value.