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19th Century Man and Animal. New Shares
L’homme et l’animal du XIXe siècle. Nouveaux partages
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:07:32
Abstract
The question of the animal always refers to that of the borders, which separate its world from that of humans, but also invite to think their own crossing. This sharing refers to questions of an ecological, economic, political, legal and metaphysical nature.
Objective
We will try to undo, through the prism of the question of the animal, the image of a monolithic 19th century, an aggregate solidified by the scientistic ideology of productivism, colonialism and specific violence, to make it a space of debates, conflicts and contradictions from which our present is largely derived.
Content
There is no more animal than human in itself, but historical constructions produced by heterogeneous, complex and conflicting practices and orders of discourse. The question of the animal always refers to that of the borders, which separate its world from that of humans, but also invite to think their own crossing. This sharing refers to questions of an ecological, economic, political, legal and metaphysical nature. We will try to undo, through the prism of the question of the animal, the image of a monolithic 19th century, an aggregate solidified by the scientistic ideology of productivism, colonialism and specific violence, to make it a space of debates, conflicts and contradictions from which our present is largely derived and in which it can benefit from reflecting on itself by taking into account what Serge Audier calls its "forgotten promises”. At the same time, we will reflect on the relationship of 19th century works to the sciences of their time in an attempt to think about the relationship of literature to sciences and to science in terms of popularization, ideological assimilations, but also critical displacements and counter-proposals. Our reflections will lead us to contemporary discussions about the rights and the future of animals. More information on the course can be found here: https://francais.ethz.ch/
General Information
- Language
- French
- Levels
- DS , DR , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 40
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | L’homme et l’animal du XIXe siècle. Nouveaux partages |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )