2026–2027 Opening Symposium
Animals
More than ever, animals have become a major issue: ecological (health and environmental crises), social, economic, and political (agriculture and livestock farming), legal, and philosophical. In recent years, the field of animal studies has expanded considerably.
The Collège de France’s 2026 opening symposium aims to offer an in-depth examination of some of these issues and to chart a path that bridges the life and natural sciences, the humanities, literature, the history of religions, and law. From foundational texts to contemporary challenges of coexistence, and from animal intelligence to ethical and legal questions, it explores how animals challenge our thinking and reshape our responsibility within the living world. The guiding principle is this: our understanding of animals cannot be separated from our understanding of humans. Any inquiry into animals necessarily involves an understanding of humanity, its knowledge, its practices, and its norms.
