Man, That Old Sick Animal

L'Homme, ce vieil animal malade

The title, quoting Nietzsche describing Man as a sick animal, seems to fit Jean-Luc Nancy, famous for his thinking and especially his striking account of his experience of a heart transplant. But there is no miserabilism here, no sickness or age – instead we have a portrait of the philosopher in action in various different aspects. The first course is biographical, with family archives that take us back to the philosopher’s early years, setting the stage for childhood memories as he secretly breaks his first taboos.