Safari Instinctif

Safari Instinctif is a reflective section of Éloge du Monde in which Michel Serres explores humanity’s primal drive to seek, observe, and pursue the world. Using the metaphor of a “safari,” he describes knowledge as an instinctive hunt—guided not only by reason, but by curiosity, intuition, and the senses.

Serres suggests that before science became formal and methodical, humans learned through direct contact with their environment: watching, listening, touching, and moving through the world. This instinctive engagement, he argues, remains essential. Safari Instinctif critiques overly abstract or detached knowledge and calls for a renewed, embodied relationship with the world—one that respects its vitality, unpredictability, and richness.