I am currently working on a PhD thesis in Contemporary Philosophy on speciesism (i.e. the discrimination against non-human animals). More specifically, I am defending the idea that speciesism, traditionally defined as an individual and behavioral phenomenon, is better understood as a systemic, structural problem.
This doctoral project is part of an international joint-supervision agreement between the University of Puebla (México) and the University of Strasbourg (France) under the supervision of Arturo Aguirre Moreno (political philosophy) and Cédric Sueur (ethology/primatology) Supervisors: Arturo Aguirre Moreno and Cédric Sueur
The history of the High Walls of Lima doesn’t only reflect the city’s urban development, but it a... more The history of the High Walls of Lima doesn’t only reflect the city’s urban development, but it also symbolizes the evolution of the very perception of cultural heritage, especially in the context of a post-colonial society. This paper analyzes the evolution of the High Walls of Lima, highlighting their impact on the urban development of Lima and more particularly on the perception of this colonial heritage. I’ll start with the construction of the fortifications during the 17th century, showing how the colonial era in Lima completely changed the urban landscape. Then I’ll study the stage of their demolition in the nineteenth century, which represents a major shift in the perception of the High Walls. I’ll finish with their contemporary monumentalisation, studying the example of the Parque de la Muralla and its museum.
The representation of old age is, and has always been, a much contrasted one. Philosophers, write... more The representation of old age is, and has always been, a much contrasted one. Philosophers, writers, painters, film directors, journalists as well as politicians have been portraying old age in an ambiguous way; and this ambiguity seems to have withstood the test of time. Therefore, this paper will delve into the exploration of how aging and the elderly have been portrayed in French literature. Studying old age as a literary theme is another way to understand how the image of the elderly evolved through time in France, and more generally, a powerful tool to understand aging and old age.
The paper will assess the ways old age has been and is being represented in French literature; yesterday and nowadays. It will be divided into chronological order; the first part will explore the ways French writers and poets described old age from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Because the 19th century marks an interesting turning point in the consideration of old age, a second part of the paper will be devoted to it. The last part will finally focus on the 20th and 21st centuries’ literary representations of the Elderly.
Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios Criticos Animales, 2022
While there is increasing moral consideration for some non-human animals (mammals and birds), lit... more While there is increasing moral consideration for some non-human animals (mammals and birds), little consideration is given to aquatic animals (fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans). They are often forgotten by the animal movement itself, even though they constitute most of the victims of animal production and consumption (ranging from 94 to 98%). Every year, between 1,000 and 3,000 billion aquatic animals are killed worldwide. In this context, this article focuses on showing, based on the most recent neuroscientific and ethological advances, that aquatic animals can feel pain and are even sentient and thus able to suffer consciously. Furthermore, the ethical consequences of practices such as fishing and fish farming, as well as the cultural representations behind them, are described and analyzed from a philosophical point of view.
Keywords: Fish farming, Fishing, Animal ethics, Aquatic animals.
Nous exploitons les animaux non humains comme des moyens pour nos fins, et ce, à tous les niveaux... more Nous exploitons les animaux non humains comme des moyens pour nos fins, et ce, à tous les niveaux de nos sociétés. Comment justifier cette exploitation ? Comment expliquer que les non-humains soient toujours largement exclus de notre sphère de considération morale ? D’où proviennent ces hiérarchies que nous dressons arbitrairement entre les individus de différentes espèces ? Mais surtout, comment se fait-il que nous n’arrêtions jamais le rythme effréné de l’exploitation animale pour nous poser une question aussi urgente que dérangeante : notre traitement des animaux non humains est-il moralement justifiable ?
Since the 1970s, the critique of violence against non-human animals has led to deep ethical quest... more Since the 1970s, the critique of violence against non-human animals has led to deep ethical questionings: the “animal cause” became a political struggle. However, never have societies exploited, tortured, mutilated and slaughtered animals as much as they do now. In the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, due to a zoonosis, we claim that the responsibility and the cruelty of the current economic and cultural model are to be analyzed philosophically. Indeed, such a model presupposes dynamics of valuation of other species’ lives, of how they are treated while they are alive and how they are killed, as well as the privileging of human beings at the expense of other living beings.
THE HUMAN AND THE BEAST. Exploring the Systemic Dimension of Speciesism., 2019
Animal welfare and the question of animal rights have lately become an unavoidable societal, cult... more Animal welfare and the question of animal rights have lately become an unavoidable societal, cultural and political issue in many countries. The term speciesism constitutes a useful conceptual framework in the analysis of the problems related to the way most societies exclude nonhuman animals from their moral circle. However, the concept still needs further theoretical development, and no consensus has been reached yet when it comes to the definition of speciesism. This thesis contributes to the academic discussion by providing an exploration of speciesism as a system. It will argue that the dominant definitions have mostly relied on an individually-based understanding of speciesism, therefore often omitting its systemic dimension that transcends individual responsibility. After having emphasized the influence of a deeply culturally rooted speciesist value system, it demonstrates the extent to which speciesism also operates as a system nourished, supported and legitimized by cultural, institutional, and economic subsystems. The research leads to the working definition of speciesism as a system of advantage based on the species and invites to rethink the solutions against speciesism. Indeed, it will make obvious the fact that fighting against speciesism requires holistic, systemic solutions, tackling not only individual beliefs and behaviors but also the cultural, political and economic forms of speciesism.
The history of the High Walls of Lima doesn’t only reflect the city’s urban development, but it a... more The history of the High Walls of Lima doesn’t only reflect the city’s urban development, but it also symbolizes the evolution of the very perception of cultural heritage, especially in the context of a post-colonial society. This paper analyzes the evolution of the High Walls of Lima, highlighting their impact on the urban development of Lima and more particularly on the perception of this colonial heritage. I’ll start with the construction of the fortifications during the 17th century, showing how the colonial era in Lima completely changed the urban landscape. Then I’ll study the stage of their demolition in the nineteenth century, which represents a major shift in the perception of the High Walls. I’ll finish with their contemporary monumentalisation, studying the example of the Parque de la Muralla and its museum.
The representation of old age is, and has always been, a much contrasted one. Philosophers, write... more The representation of old age is, and has always been, a much contrasted one. Philosophers, writers, painters, film directors, journalists as well as politicians have been portraying old age in an ambiguous way; and this ambiguity seems to have withstood the test of time. Therefore, this paper will delve into the exploration of how aging and the elderly have been portrayed in French literature. Studying old age as a literary theme is another way to understand how the image of the elderly evolved through time in France, and more generally, a powerful tool to understand aging and old age.
The paper will assess the ways old age has been and is being represented in French literature; yesterday and nowadays. It will be divided into chronological order; the first part will explore the ways French writers and poets described old age from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Because the 19th century marks an interesting turning point in the consideration of old age, a second part of the paper will be devoted to it. The last part will finally focus on the 20th and 21st centuries’ literary representations of the Elderly.
Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios Criticos Animales, 2022
While there is increasing moral consideration for some non-human animals (mammals and birds), lit... more While there is increasing moral consideration for some non-human animals (mammals and birds), little consideration is given to aquatic animals (fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans). They are often forgotten by the animal movement itself, even though they constitute most of the victims of animal production and consumption (ranging from 94 to 98%). Every year, between 1,000 and 3,000 billion aquatic animals are killed worldwide. In this context, this article focuses on showing, based on the most recent neuroscientific and ethological advances, that aquatic animals can feel pain and are even sentient and thus able to suffer consciously. Furthermore, the ethical consequences of practices such as fishing and fish farming, as well as the cultural representations behind them, are described and analyzed from a philosophical point of view.
Keywords: Fish farming, Fishing, Animal ethics, Aquatic animals.
Nous exploitons les animaux non humains comme des moyens pour nos fins, et ce, à tous les niveaux... more Nous exploitons les animaux non humains comme des moyens pour nos fins, et ce, à tous les niveaux de nos sociétés. Comment justifier cette exploitation ? Comment expliquer que les non-humains soient toujours largement exclus de notre sphère de considération morale ? D’où proviennent ces hiérarchies que nous dressons arbitrairement entre les individus de différentes espèces ? Mais surtout, comment se fait-il que nous n’arrêtions jamais le rythme effréné de l’exploitation animale pour nous poser une question aussi urgente que dérangeante : notre traitement des animaux non humains est-il moralement justifiable ?
Since the 1970s, the critique of violence against non-human animals has led to deep ethical quest... more Since the 1970s, the critique of violence against non-human animals has led to deep ethical questionings: the “animal cause” became a political struggle. However, never have societies exploited, tortured, mutilated and slaughtered animals as much as they do now. In the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, due to a zoonosis, we claim that the responsibility and the cruelty of the current economic and cultural model are to be analyzed philosophically. Indeed, such a model presupposes dynamics of valuation of other species’ lives, of how they are treated while they are alive and how they are killed, as well as the privileging of human beings at the expense of other living beings.
THE HUMAN AND THE BEAST. Exploring the Systemic Dimension of Speciesism., 2019
Animal welfare and the question of animal rights have lately become an unavoidable societal, cult... more Animal welfare and the question of animal rights have lately become an unavoidable societal, cultural and political issue in many countries. The term speciesism constitutes a useful conceptual framework in the analysis of the problems related to the way most societies exclude nonhuman animals from their moral circle. However, the concept still needs further theoretical development, and no consensus has been reached yet when it comes to the definition of speciesism. This thesis contributes to the academic discussion by providing an exploration of speciesism as a system. It will argue that the dominant definitions have mostly relied on an individually-based understanding of speciesism, therefore often omitting its systemic dimension that transcends individual responsibility. After having emphasized the influence of a deeply culturally rooted speciesist value system, it demonstrates the extent to which speciesism also operates as a system nourished, supported and legitimized by cultural, institutional, and economic subsystems. The research leads to the working definition of speciesism as a system of advantage based on the species and invites to rethink the solutions against speciesism. Indeed, it will make obvious the fact that fighting against speciesism requires holistic, systemic solutions, tackling not only individual beliefs and behaviors but also the cultural, political and economic forms of speciesism.
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Drafts by Sarah Zanaz
This paper analyzes the evolution of the High Walls of Lima, highlighting their impact on the urban development of Lima and more particularly on the perception of this colonial heritage. I’ll start with the construction of the fortifications during the 17th century, showing how the colonial era in Lima completely changed the urban landscape. Then I’ll study the stage of their demolition in the nineteenth century, which represents a major shift in the perception of the High Walls. I’ll finish with their contemporary monumentalisation, studying the example of the Parque de la Muralla and its museum.
The paper will assess the ways old age has been and is being represented in French literature; yesterday and nowadays. It will be divided into chronological order; the first part will explore the ways French writers and poets described old age from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Because the 19th century marks an interesting turning point in the consideration of old age, a second part of the paper will be devoted to it. The last part will finally focus on the 20th and 21st centuries’ literary representations of the Elderly.
Papers by Sarah Zanaz
Keywords: Fish farming, Fishing, Animal ethics, Aquatic animals.
Thesis Chapters by Sarah Zanaz
This paper analyzes the evolution of the High Walls of Lima, highlighting their impact on the urban development of Lima and more particularly on the perception of this colonial heritage. I’ll start with the construction of the fortifications during the 17th century, showing how the colonial era in Lima completely changed the urban landscape. Then I’ll study the stage of their demolition in the nineteenth century, which represents a major shift in the perception of the High Walls. I’ll finish with their contemporary monumentalisation, studying the example of the Parque de la Muralla and its museum.
The paper will assess the ways old age has been and is being represented in French literature; yesterday and nowadays. It will be divided into chronological order; the first part will explore the ways French writers and poets described old age from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Because the 19th century marks an interesting turning point in the consideration of old age, a second part of the paper will be devoted to it. The last part will finally focus on the 20th and 21st centuries’ literary representations of the Elderly.
Keywords: Fish farming, Fishing, Animal ethics, Aquatic animals.