다종 간 지식과 체화된 공감

초록

Recently, within the context of so-called new materialism and posthumanism, the issue of the possibility of “interspecies knowledge” has emerged as a facet of the broader question concerning communication between human and non-human others. In this paper, we seek to clarify the concept of “interspecies knowledge” and explore the perspective that understanding or communication between species is partially, yet substantively, achievable through what is referred to as “empathy.” The challenge lies in refining and establishing the concepts and theories of empathy that are fundamentally related to interspecies knowledge. In this context, we focus on Vinciane Despret’s concept of “embodied empathy” as a mode of knowing between humans and animal species. Despret contends that, despite the asymmetry arising from species differences, communication and understanding between humans and animals can occur through partial affinities formed by mutual responsiveness and coordination grounded in embodiment. The present paper examines the significance, challenges, and future directions associated with that perspective. Through this discussion, we aim to offer a potential starting point for developing a theory of knowledge concerning non-human others.

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