Zoographies: The Question of the Animal from Heidegger to Derrida Contributor(s): Calarco, Matthew (Author) |
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ISBN: 0231140223 ISBN-13: 9780231140225 Publisher: Columbia University Press OUR PRICE: $103.95 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: July 2008 Annotation: "The question of the animal," according to Matthew Calarco, "is one of the central issues in contemporary critical discourse." Zoographies challenges the anthropocentrism of the continental philosophical tradition and advances the position that, although some distinctions are valid, humans and animals are best viewed as part of an ontological whole. He draws on ethological and evolutionary evidence and the work of Heidegger, who called for a radicalized responsibility toward all life forms; Levinas, who raised questions about genocide and animal slaughter; Agamben, who argued that the "anthropological machine" is responsible for the horrors of the twentieth century; and Derrida, who began to conceive of a nonanthropocentric ethics. The book concludes with a call for the abolition of classical versions of the human-animal distinction and the development of new ways of thinking and living with animals. |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | History & Surveys - Modern - Nature | Animal Rights - Philosophy | Movements - Deconstruction |
Dewey: 179.3 |
LCCN: 2007046991 |
Physical Information: 0.7" H x 6.3" W x 9" (0.90 lbs) 184 pages |
Themes: - Chronological Period - 20th Century |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Zoographies challenges the anthropocentrism of the Continental philosophical tradition and advances the position that, while some distinctions are valid, humans and animals are best viewed as part of an ontological whole. Matthew Calarco draws on ethological and evolutionary evidence and the work of Heidegger, who called for a radicalized responsibility toward all forms of life. He also turns to Levinas, who raised questions about the nature and scope of ethics; Agamben, who held the "anthropological machine" responsible for the horrors of the twentieth century; and Derrida, who initiated a nonanthropocentric ethics. Calarco concludes with a call for the abolition of classical versions of the human-animal distinction and asks that we devise new ways of thinking about and living with animals. |