The Moral Status of the Animals in Non-Anthropocentric Ethics

Abstract The thesis deals with key theoretical trends in animal studies. We trace the evolution of animal research. The emphasis is placed on the formation narratives about the human-animal distinction by Giorgio Agamben, Jacques Derrida, Oxana Timofeeva, Gilbert Simondon, Peter Singer and others. The study problematizes such phenomena as speciesism, anthropocentrism and the Anthropocene. Animal studies marks a new turn in the post-humanities towards the problem of the alternative subject and interspecific responsibility. Special treatment is given to Schaeffer's contribution with his thesis of the end of human exceptionalism (La Fin de l'exception humaine). The influence of Derrida and Agamben, along with the critique of Descartes, Heidegger and other continental philosophers become the foundation for constructing a set of problems around the modern situation of animal machines who, being a speechless political group, are transformed by the anthropocentric understanding of politics and language into a political group forced be silent. In the practical field of philosophy, there are many attempts to rectify this situation — for example, the proposed human representation of non- human beings. Although it is very controversial, the general trend is that there is a need for unions and alliances with non-human animals under the conditions of climate change policies.