FOR AN ETHIC OF RESPONSIBILITY: METABOLIC WRITING BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FICTION IN AUTOBIOGRAPHIE D’UN POULPE BY VINCIANE DESPRET

Abstract

This article proposes an epistemocritical analysis of the collection of texts Autobiographie d’un poulpe et autres récits d’anticipation (2021) by philosopher Vinciane Despret, which reworks scientific studies to speculate on animal language. The aim is to show that this thought experiment in evolutionary biology have an importantethical function, underpinned by the speculative relationship of SF. Our hypothesis is that the pragmatic effects of the text relate to the activation of an “ethic of responsibility” towards life on Earth and its interdependencies.