FACulty GROUPS
“Thinking with animals” faculty reading group
FEBRUARY 2025
The inaugural meeting of the “Thinking with Animals” reading group pairs selections from two books showcasing the diverse possibilities of animal studies: Islands of Abandonment: Life in the Post-Human Landscape (Cal Flynn, 2021) and How to Make a Human: Animals and Violence in the Middle Ages (Karl Steel, 2011). On their surface, these works differ markedly: How to Make a Human traces the attempts of medieval European thinkers to enforce a conceptual distinction between humans and animals, while Islands of Abandonment centers on the present day, guiding the reader through formerly inhabited spaces left to “return to nature.” Taken together, How to Make a Human and Islands of Abandonment highlight the tendency to view “human” and “animal” as binary categories whose relationship is structured by competition and exploitation, challenging us to envision alternative modes of coexistence.
“Thinking with animals” faculty WRITing group
JANUARY 2025
Although we are apart during January, for many of us, now is the time to dig into our scholarship. Our New Year’s Resolution initiative encourages PHIL participants to set a goal for animals studies-related projects in the coming year. Whether you’re doing research, creative work, or even course development, anything connected to the theme of “thinking with animals” is eagerly welcomed! We will have virtual chats and accountability check-ins throughout the month, and we look forward to holding our in-person writing group meeting in February.
