Animal cognition, speciesism, humanism: Reflections on the notion of “semiotic animal”
Animal cognition, speciesism, humanism: Reflections on the notion of “semiotic animal”

Summary/Abstract: The goal of this article is to assess the epistemological “suitability” of humanities to discuss the question of “humanity” and “human identity”, and their reiterated dialectic opposition to “animality”. The case study shall be the notion of “semiotic animal” (Deely 2005) within the framework of similar anthropocentric definitions aimed to establish a qualitative and dualistic distinction between the human being and the other animals. The motivations behind this differentiation – it is here maintained – appear to be more ideological than methodological, as illustrated by the long history of definitions of “humanity”, as instruments for qualitative distinction from the rest of the animals. On the contrary, the article defends the thesis of the (ethical, but not only) necessity to produce certain statements on a solid empirical (or at least scientifically-informed) basis. By analyzing notions like “semiotic animal”, the article seeks to expose some of their many scientific inaccuracies and to challenge their speculative construction.

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