Philosophies of the Parasite: From Coexistence to Para-existence

This chapter reconsiders central philosophical oppositions—self and other, individual and society—through the lens of the parasite. It examines the ontological, ethical, and social implications of parasitism as a mode of relation and considers its potential as a conceptual framework for re-evaluating the foundations of contemporary society. Drawing on a wide range of sources—from the ancient Greek and Roman notion of the parasitos, through cultural representations such as Bong Joon-ho’s film Parasite, to contemporary ecological philosophy—the chapter proposes parasitism, or “para-existence,” as an alternative mode of thought to the dominant paradigm of symbiosis, often framed as “coexistence.”