The Joys (& Tribulations) of Being Animal with Melanie Challenger

Thursday May 2nd
Doors & drinks 6.30pm; Talk starts 7pm

For thousands of years, humans have pondered their nature and what follows from it. Despite all the diverse human cultures and origin myths, one idea has prevailed: humans are made of two parts, a spiritual and an animal part.

Through this idea, we have shaped a world in which being animal is often seen as threatening, even debasing, whereas being human is viewed as uniquely precious, and morally and spiritually elevating. Even today, when we face a world in which we are the agent of environmental change and destruction, the idea of being animal remains contentious or morally confounding.

In this talk, Melanie Challenger, non-fiction writer and author of How To Be Animal, will ask what might a world look like in which we took a different view of our animality? How would our ideas and our democracies shift if we took seriously the possibility that we live in a world of rich beings who should be respected and included? And how would the idea of our own animal nature get us there?

Melanie's talk will be followed by a one-pot vegan supper and discussion.

Kairos, 84 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TG

Doors open at 6.30pm for drinks. Talk starts at 7pm followed by supper and discussion.

£8 Kairos Club Member, £15 Non-member, £10 Student or Unwaged, £20 Supporter. Food complimentary.