Vers un anthropomorphisme critique

Abstract

Through the analysis of a few examples from German-language literature, this paper proposes to deconstruct the notion of anthropomorphism (applied to animals), with the aim of rehabilitating it for critical use. To do so, it relies on theoretical approaches derived from two fields of research: the anthropology of nature and New Materialism. First, this paper argues that the thesis of ontological pluralism, as formulated by Philippe Descola, can enable a critical use of the notion of anthropomorphism in literary and cultural studies, while it takes on a different meaning when viewed within the framework of a non-naturalistic ontology such as analogism, and even loses all relevance within the framework of an ontology of nature such as animism. Then it shows how the notion of form (morphḗ) has been developed by Goethe so as to transform anthropomorphism into a questioning tool, before emphasizing, through the analysis of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s Minotaurus, how difficult it is to escape anthropomorphism within the framework of naturalism. Finally, the paper shows, through reference to some of Kafka’s stories, that the anthropos and the subject/object relationship implied in anthropomorphism have been radically deconstructed by New Materialism, leading to a complete redefinition of the notion.

Keywords

• anthropomorphism
• New Materialism
• Goethe
• Minotaur
• Dürrenmatt
• Kafka