Different beasts : humans and animals in Spinoza and the Zhuangzi Different Beasts: Humans and Animals in Spinoza and the Zhuangzi studies conceptions of human and animal identity as articulated in the ancient Chinese text known as the Zhuangzi and in the works of the seventeenth century European philosopher Benedict de Spinoza. By examining how in these very different philosophies notions of humanness and animality intersect with ideas about human unity and solidarity social order and categories of social difference (such as gender descent and ability) Different Beasts opens new paths for understanding Spinoza and the Zhuangzi while also developing methodological insights into the practice of cross cultural comparative philosophy Different Beasts explores conceptions of animality and humanity as they emerge in the writings of Spinoza and in the ancient Chinese text known as the Zhuangzi. The project thus brings together works from distant and different pasts to bear on debates regarding the human animal binary in its many constructions. It also investigates what is at stake in the formation of responsible comparison one that is contextually grounded and refined in detail to understand how the complex machinery behind the human animal binary operates in different philosophical systems.