DET ZOOFILE ÅRHUNDREDE

Abstract

Anne Knudsen: The Century of Zoophilia

Taking as her point of departure the protests

against a dying child having his last wish fulfilled

because his wish was to kill a bear, the

author argues that animals have achieved a

higher moral status than that of humans during

the 20th century. The status of animals

(and of “nature”) is seen as a consequence of

their muteness which on the one hånd makes

it impossible for animals to lie, and which on

the other hånd allows humans to imagine

what animals would say, if they spoke. The

development toward zoophilia is explained

as a a logical consequence of the cultural naturalisation

of humans, and the author draws

the conclusion that we may end up entirely

without animals as a category. This hypothetical

situation will lead to juridical as well as

philosophical complications.