Leonardo Caffo on Posthumanism, Anti-Speciesism, and the Need for a New Species

In an interview with Stefania Gaudiosi, philosopher Leonardo Caffo discusses his work on posthumanism, anti-speciesism, and the urgent need to rethink humanity's relationship with animals and nature. Caffo, author of "Fragile umanità" (Einaudi, 2017) and "Costruire futuri" (Bompiani, 2018, with Azzurra Muzzonigro), argues that Homo sapiens has failed and a new hybrid species—the contemporary posthuman—must emerge. He critiques anthropocentrism and speciesism, advocating for a moral framework that recognizes the sentience of all living beings. Caffo's Waiting Posthuman Studio and his role as artistic director of the Milan space Walden exemplify his practical engagement with these ideas. The interview touches on the influence of Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" (1845) on Caffo's thinking, the pre-conscious nature of decisions (citing a 2008 Max Planck Institute study), and the necessity of an alliance between philosophy, art, and architecture to build alternative futures. Caffo emphasizes that artists must intervene now to shape the evolutionary shift, as the current capitalist system collapses under climate migration, urban unlivability, and mass extinction. The conversation is part of the "L'arte è un delfino" series.