Animal Crisis: A New Critical Theory

by Alice Crary, Lori Gruen

Leading philosophers Alice Crary and Lori Gruen offer a searing and desperately needed response to systems of thought and action that are failing animals and, ultimately, humans too. In the wake of global pandemics, mass extinctions, habitat destruction, and catastrophic climate change, they issue a clarion call to address the intertwined problems we face, arguing that we must radically reimagine our relationships with other animals.

In stark contrast to traditional theories in animal ethics, which abstract from social mechanisms harmful to human beings, Animal Crisis makes the case that there can be no animal liberation without human emancipation. Borrowing from critical theories such as ecofeminism, Crary and Gruen present a critical animal theory for understanding and combating the structural forces that enable the diminishment of so many to the advantage of a few. With seven case studies of complex human-animal relations, they make an urgent plea to dismantle the “human supremacism” that is devastating animal lives and hurtling us toward ecocide.

Genres: Vegan, Philosophy

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2022

About the author

Alice Marguerite Crary

Reviews

[James Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you fail to see what’s wrong with our treatment of other animals, you surely will after reading this book. This is a much-needed work, delivered at a time when we can no longer rely on old forms of thinking and acting. It is sharp, critical, and excellently written and demands our attention.

The authors bring all kinds of relevant philosophy to the fore. I did find myself wanting more philosophy for the first 50 pages. Crary and Gruen avoid discussing it directly, relying on empirical data to make their case. But I got what I wanted—and more—from chapter three onwards.

The authors challenge our attempts to draw moral distinctions between species based on their capacities—attempts that pervade the history of animal ethics and are embedded in the justificatory premises of human supremacy. They also show that the way in which we harm and wrong animals (on an unfathomable scale) resembles the way in which we treat humans in capitalist societies: as exploitable and disposable resources. Change will come in many forms, but it will primarily come from challenging political structures that perpetuate objectification and exploitation.

Sometimes big works are cited without being engaged with or without the connection being elaborated. Furthermore, the book is peculiarly structured. There are seven chapters for seven themes: Crisis, Ethics, Suffering, Minds, Dignity, Seeing, and Politics. Each chapter begins with a case study for a particular species of animal. The link is sometimes tenuous. Even so, the authors make it work.

I really enjoyed this!

[Entintadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4'5 / 5

"Respetar a los animales requiere reconocerlos como seres con dignidad"

En este libro encontramos un análisis de las situaciones por las que son obligadas a pasar diferentes especies animales por culpa, en gran parte, del ser humano, a la que se unen riesgos naturales y el cambio climático.

Partiendo de estudios de investigadores, científicos y filósofos, las autoras reflexionan y conciencian sobre el riesgo en el que se encuentran los animales, usando casos concretos con los que ejemplifican su postura en la ética animal. Desde el dolor que experimentan madres y crias al ser separadas, hasta las condiciones de los mataderos. También abordan la necesidad de reflexionar sobre la conciencia que los animales tienen sobre ellos mismos, puesto que responden ante el dolor físico y emocional de forma semejante a cómo lo haría un ser humano.

Como punto a discrepar, la brevedad de su extensión deja fuera multitud de animales que puedan conectar e impactar en mayor medida con el público.

Es una lectura compleja, no tanto por los conceptos que se abordan, los cuales tratan de explicar en un lenguaje claro y entendible, sino por la crudeza de las situaciones que muestran, muchas de las cuales serían evitables.

Colibrí.

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brings up some interesting and valid ideas about animal ethics and how we should see and treat animals. However, oftentimes too many words were used to express one point or went astray from the main topic of the chapter, like the authors were just rambling on a tangent. Hard to read but kinda interesting if you read slowly and carefully.

[Julie Bergley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the way humans and animals interact and the importance of treating animals with respect and dignity. I found the concept of the late stage capitalism affect on animals to be fascinating. I’m interested in learning more.

[Marissa Clauburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

like every other modern writing on animal studies that i've seen