Critical Theory pioneered the theorization of human-animal relations, helping establish that agency extends beyond the human world. Nonhuman agency is now widely accepted within the “new materialisms” and beyond but there are growing calls for more critical approaches that consider why and how such agency is mobilized. These calls effectively bring together the concerns of “old” and “new” materialisms. I therefore return to Critical Theory, bringing its explanatory analysis, practical framework and future imaginary into conversation with more recent research into nonhuman agency. Together, they reveal how the relations between human and nonhuman actors shape and are shaped by their broader socio-political context. I suggest that paying closer attention to human-domestic animal relations in particular might help us resolve some of the issues at stake. Consequently, for illustrations to extend the analysis, the article turns to horses, a nonhuman group who occupy a unique place in our collective unconscious.

中文翻译：

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权力与非人类能动性的关系：批判理论、聪明的汉斯和其他关于马和人类的故事

批判理论开创了人与动物关系的理论化，帮助建立了超越人类世界的代理。非人类能动性现在在“新唯物主义”及其他领域被广泛接受，但越来越多的人呼吁采用更批判性的方法来考虑为什么以及如何动员这种能动性。这些呼吁有效地将“旧”和“新”唯物主义的关注结合在一起。因此，我回到批判理论，将其解释性分析、实践框架和未来想象与最近对非人类能动性的研究进行对话。它们共同揭示了人类和非人类行为者之间的关系如何塑造和受其更广泛的社会政治背景影响。我建议密切关注人与家畜的关系，特别是可能有助于我们解决一些相关问题。因此，为了用插图来扩展分析，文章转向马，这是一个在我们的集体无意识中占据独特位置的非人类群体。