Zoological Lacan

“For too long, we have considered Jacques Lacan a theorist who confines himself to human subjects, even if he stresses their inhuman qualities. Finally, Zoological Lacan arrives to rescue Lacan from this misunderstanding, which he himself provoked. Teddy Duncan’s masterwork will force you to think differently about both the thought of Lacan and about how we theorize animality. Bringing Lacan’s thought to bear on the question of the animal, Zoological Lacan marks a fundamental turning point in animal studies.”

— Todd McGowan, Professor of English, University of Vermont, USA

“A compelling contribution to second-wave animal ethics (despite his thoughtful push against the ethical for the sake of theory) Duncan Jr.’s scholarship picks up Lacan in its mouth and gives him a good shake, playing with the idea of Lacan’s imaginary as a lens to understand nonhuman animals. Zoological Lacan will become core reading for many of us interested in the problem and power of animal relations, both theoretically and ethically.”

— Jonathan Beever, Co-editor of Perspectives in Bioethics, Science, and Public Policy and Professor of Engineering and Society, University of Virginia

“If you love Lacan and you love animals, this book is for you! An exciting ride through Lacanian zoology.”

— Darian Leader, Lacanian Psychoanalyst and author of Joussiance: Sexuality, Suffering and Satisfaction

“References to animal life and experience are found throughout Lacan’s work, but are more often than not used as contrasts to human experience. Duncan collates and sifts through these references and succeeds in putting together an account of what Lacanian theory is able to say, positively, about animal life. While lacking signifiers, what can be said about an animal big Other, or an animal unconscious? What kind of psychic structures do animals have? In addition, Duncan uses Lacanian theory to give a powerful and convincing account of animal trauma, as well as some intriguing reflections on our love of animals: can we give what we do not have to an animal who does not want it, and perhaps does not desire and lack as we do?”

— Ed Pluth, Professor of Philosophy, California State University, Chico

Teddy Duncan Jr. is an Associate Professor at Valencia College. His writing on psychoanalysis, literature, and animality has been published in various academic journals, and this is his second book.

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