Abstract

This paper analyzes Alphonso Lingis’ contributions to the ongoing philosophical debate on the “question of the animal.” It situates Lingis’ philosophy of the animal within what Matthew Calarco calls the “indistinction” approach, a framework that transcends traditional binary distinctions between humans and animals. It also explores how Lingis’ philosophy challenges anthropocentrism by proposing a novel ontology of life that emphasizes the shared ontological ground between humans and animals, promoting an understanding of life as characterized by excess, kinship, and interconnectedness. It then goes on to link this to his ethical stance which is grounded in the phenomenology of the animal encounter. This paper ultimately advocates for the relevance and force of a Lingisian philosophy of the animal, underscoring its potential to reshape contemporary discussions on animal ontology, ethics, and environmental issues.