Humans and Other Animals: Rattling the Paradigm

The Discipline of Philosophy at the University of South Africa (Unisa) invites students and early career practitioners from across the globe to explore the complex relationship between humans and other animals. The conference aims to create a space for voices that are frequently marginalized in animal ethics, particularly those from the Global South. It will allow students, young activists, and early career artists and performers to exchange ideas across borders and make sustainable connections with each other as well as with Unisa.

The conference will be organized around three themes:

• Philosophy and Ethical Theory
• Activism and Community-centered Approaches
• Cultural Production, Art, and Performance

Our goal is to address the prevailing lack of representation in animal ethics, both of local perspectives and of those outside traditional academia. This lack of representation impoverishes the conversation and robs all of us of fresh thoughts and viewpoints. By bridging the gap between academia and the lived reality of students around the world and those outside of university walls, the conference will create a more inclusive conversation that defies the narrow confines of Western academic philosophy and will benefit everyone with a sincere interest in animal ethics.

Presenting at the conference offers a unique opportunity to showcase your work to an international audience, and to benefit from the diverse perspectives people from different national, religious, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds bring to issues arising from our relationship with nonhuman animals.

The conference will be conducted online on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, December 17-19. The conference language is English. There is no conference fee. Participation is free for both presenters and non-presenting attendees. Presenters will receive an honorarium of 80 USD each. The deadline for abstract submission is July 31, 2024. The deadline for registration is Friday, December 13.

Please contact [email protected] for any questions.