Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats

Barış Ağır

Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats

Abstract

This study aims to analyse Doris Lessing’s On Cats through the lenses of animal subjectivity and ethics of care theory in the context of animal behaviours and human-nonhuman relations. Ethics of care in animal studies, which emphasises observing and communicating with non-human animals and caring for them, provides a theoretical foundation for understanding On Cats. In this respect, this study attempts to interpret the narrative from the perspective of ethics of care in order to dig out Lessing’s views on animals. The study mainly focuses on the subjectivity of nonhuman animals, which is indicated by their sentience and behaviours. According to Lessing, non-human animals have sensations that distinguish themselves from human beings. There is no doubt that they should be considered independent living beings though they seem to be relying on human beings for a living in this human-dominated society. Animals have feelings and emotions, and human beings should try to understand them by linking their behaviours with a human’s own experiences.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

British and Irish Language, Literature and Culture, Literary Studies, Literary Theory

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Barış Ağır ^* This is me
0000-0002-7132-5844
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 27, 2022

Submission Date

November 12, 2021

Acceptance Date

March 20, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 2 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ağır, B. (2022). Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies, 2(1), 29-44. https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK

AMA

1.Ağır B. Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats. IDEAS. 2022;2(1):29-44. https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK

Chicago

Ağır, Barış. 2022. “Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats”. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies 2 (1): 29-44. https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK.

EndNote

Ağır B (April 1, 2022) Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies 2 1 29–44.

IEEE

[1]B. Ağır, “Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats”, IDEAS, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 29–44, Apr. 2022, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK

ISNAD

Ağır, Barış. “Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats”. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies 2/1 (April 1, 2022): 29-44. https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK.

JAMA

1.Ağır B. Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats. IDEAS. 2022;2:29–44.

MLA

Ağır, Barış. “Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats”. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, Apr. 2022, pp. 29-44, https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK.

Vancouver

1.Barış Ağır. Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats. IDEAS [Internet]. 2022 Apr. 1;2(1):29-44. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA35EW77FK