Genealogy of the animal concept:

a study for future ethics

Abstract

In this article, a genealogical examination of the concept of the animal was carried out; a breakdown of how the animal is conceptualized in the social imaginary. In order to understand this concept, the three following discourses, which are considered relevant to comprehend the origin of the concept, were analyzed: the discourse of the Judeo-Christian tradition, which establishes the animal as a lower being; the discourse of the scientific imaginary, which considers the animal as an object; and the discourse of modern philosophy, which assumes it as an irrational being. This exploration aims to demonstrate how these discourses sustain the way we conceptualize the animal, as long as we prevail doing it, mistreat and misunderstood of the animal will linger, even when there are initiatives that seek to change the animal-human relationship.