The Animal That Therefore I Am

摘要: The Animal That Therefore I Am is the long-awaited translation of complete text Jacques Derrida's ten-hour address to 1997 Cerisy conference entitled "The Autobiographical Animal," third four such colloquia on his work. book was assembled posthumously basis two published sections, one written and recorded session, informal session.The at once an affectionate look back over multiple roles played by animals in work a profound philosophical investigation critique relegation animal life that takes place as result distinction--dating from Descartes--between man thinking every other living species. starts with very fact line separation drawn between human millions species are reduced single "the animal." Derrida finds distinction, or versions it, surfacing thinkers far apart Descartes, Kant, Heidegger, Lacan, Levinas, he dedicates extended analyses tothe question each them.The book's autobiographical theme intersects its analysis through figures looking nakedness, staged terms experience when cat follows him into bathroom morning. In classic deconstructive reversal, asks what this sees thinks it naked man. Yet experiences nakedness shame also lead all way mythologies "man's dominion beasts" trace history how has systematically displaced onto own failings betises. times militant plea indictment regarding, especially, modern industrialized treatment animals. However, cannot subscribe simplistic version rights fails follow through, implications, questions definitions "life" which returned much later