HumAnimUs

Studies in Zooanthropology

Our vision

HumAnimUs: Studies in Zooanthropology is an English-language peer-reviewed journal founded on the premise that the human-animal divide is a concept of the past. As suggested by the term ‘zoo-anthropology’, we are zōon (animals and living beings in Greek) before being anthropos, i.e., humans. We belong to the animal kingdom alongside other species, from mammals to fish, sharing common ancestry and evolutionary roots. Like them, we have engaged in a continuous dialogue with our environment, a process that has contributed to making us who we are. This means that no species is “special” in the sense proposed by humanism. Far from being innate, autarchic and exclusive, our predicates – such as language, art and culture – are simply the fruits of this dialogue.

 

Format

HumAnimUs is grounded in a relational epistemology and delves into the multiple facets of our cohabitation with other species, seeking to unearth its multiple layers, including controversial and conflicting ones. The journal releases two monographic issues per year, with articles, interviews as well as book and film reviews. This format provides in-depth insights into specific topics related to zooanthropology, such as the influence of non-human animals on theatre, cinema, music, and other cultural practices. These monographs offer state-of-the-art scholarship in the field of zooanthropology from a perspective that challenges the separation between the humanities and the natural sciences.

 

Objectives

The journal aims to become a leading forum for debate, the further development and the dissemination of studies in human-animal relations. Its purpose is to devise, endorse, and implement practical solutions that contribute to the improvement of an inter-species society. We therefore welcome contributions from diverse research fields, including philosophy, anthropology, ethology, biology, and medicine.

Whether you are a scholar, researcher, student, or simply someone interested in our relationship with other species, HumAnimUs offers a thought-provoking and in-depth exploration in the field of zooanthropology.