The Loveliness of Being Animal: Philosopher Melanie Challenger on her book ”How to be Animal”

Today it's one of my favorite topics -- the benefits of humans starting to embrace our animality and kinship with other animals, instead of falsely repressing our animality and continuing to think of ourselves as exceptional and above all animal life. We’ll talk about how we human animals can productively change our self narrative to be more honest with author and environmental philosopher Melanie Challenger who wrote the fascinating book “How to be animal: A New History of What it Means to be Human.” As she phrases is, “It's an invitation to refresh in our minds the loveliness of being animal.” You can find out more at her website https://www.melaniechallenger.com/ 

In this half hour "In Tune to Nature" radio podcast, host Carrie Freeman talks with award-winning author Melanie Challenger about:

• what drew her to the conclusion that the fundamental issue of humanity is that we don’t want to admit we are an animal, but should;
• the false mind/body dualism and the struggle for us humans to accept our vulnerable bodily selves (we are not just our brains);
• what we gain and share with other animals in these bodies that is a lovely part of being human; how we can recognize "the world is alive with intelligence" and "if we matter, so does everything else" (p.217); and
• ways that we can collectively help create a more truthful and productive narrative on humanity that embeds us within the broader, rich animal community.
• and she ends by telling us how her "How to be Animal" book sets up her latest book on the topic of Animal Dignity and the role of respect.

"In Tune to Nature" is a weekly radio show airing Wednesdays at 6:30pm Eastern Time on 89.3FM-Atlanta radio and streaming worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, a nonprofit indie station). Hosted by Carrie Freeman or Melody Paris. The show's website and action items can be found at https://www.facebook.com/InTunetoNature  Please support indie media like Radio Free Georgia at https://wrfg.org/  

Take care of yourself and others, including human and nonhuman animals.