In this article, Professor Georges Chapouthier describes the three main concepts that have, in the past and today, defined the relationship of human beings towards animals: animals perceived as human beings, animals regarded as objects and animals understood as sentient beings. The only philosophical stance that is sustainable today is to consider animals as sentient beings that are related to human beings, but not totally identical to them. The recognition of sensitivity in animals leads to mankind’s obligation to grant them some fundamental rights on a philosophical and juridical level.En este artículo, el Prof.Georges Chapouthier describe las tres grandes concepciones que, en el plano ético han permitido a lo largo de la historia –y siguen permitiendo- a nuestra especie encarar las relaciones con las otras especies animales, tales como el “animal humanizado”, el “animal objeto” o el “animal-ser sensible”. La única postura filosóficamente sostenible hoy en día , según el autor, es la del animal como ser sensible, pariente del hombre mas sin ser idéntico a él. Reconocer a los animales una sensibilidad próxima a la nuestra conduce también a tratarlos adecuadamente, tanto ética como jurídicamente.In this article, Professor Georges Chapouthier describes the three main concepts that have, in the past and today, defined the relationship of human beings towards animals: animals perceived as human beings, animals regarded as objects and animals understood as sentient beings. The only philosophical stance that is sustainable today is to consider animals as sentient beings that are related to human beings, but not totally identical to them. The recognition of sensitivity in animals leads to mankind’s obligation to grant them some fundamental rights on a philosophical and juridical level.

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona