ZwierzÄ™ jako obcy

Abstract

The aim of this text is to reflect on understanding animals as negative oppositions towards humans. Animals in this understanding represent contradiction towards human ideals and values. In posthuman thought Rossi Braidotti proposes zooegalitarism, aiming at providing animals and humans equal rights. In cultural human tradition, one can find deeply, strongly rooted tendency to oppose humans and animals. Looking at this phenomena from humanistic point of view, one can notice that proposed by Lévinas cathegory of The Other, has no application here. To contrary: animal is treated as a stranger, and all negative qualities of the stranger are automatically assigned to animal as well. What purpose this opposition serves? And what happens if this opposition disappears?