The Question of the animal subject

To the three classic wounds to human narcissism - that of Copernicus (man does not live in a geocentric universe), Darwin (man is an animal), and Freud (man is not the master of his unconscious - there must be appended a fourth wound: man is not the only subject in the universe. While most philosophers are unwilling to accept it, ethological research shows that animals are also subjects; indeed, in human/animal hybrid communities, certain animals can become individuals or even persons. Through animal biography, anecdotes, and other often disqualified but nonetheless empirical forms of knowledge, we can come to know these singular animals.Translated from Dominique Lestel, L’Animal singulier (Paris: Seuil, 2004). Copyright Editions du Seuil, 2004.13 page(s