Human/Animal Relationships in Transformation: Scientific, Moral and Legal Perspectives

by Augusto Vitale (Editor), Simone Pollo (Editor)

Overview

The ethics of human/animal relationships is a growing field of academic research and a topic for public discussion and regulatory interventions from law-makers, governments and private institutions. Human/animal relationships are in transformation and understanding the nature of this process is crucial for all those who believe that the enlargement of moral and legal recognition to nonhuman animals is part of contemporary moral and political progress. Understanding the nature of this process means analysing and critically discussing the philosophical, scientific and legal concepts and arguments embedded in it. This book contributes to the discussion by bringing together the ideas and reflections of leading experts from different disciplinary backgrounds and with a range of scientific perspectives.

This book both provides an up-to-date examination of the transformation of human/animal relationships and presents ideas to foster this process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030852795
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	02/12/2022
Series:	The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series
Edition description:	1st ed. 2022
Pages:	403
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Augusto Vitale is Researcher at the Center for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome. His interests focus on behavioural primatology and issues related to animal experimentation. He is the author of the book Le scimmie si raccontano? Passioni e dubbi dell’etologia (2016).

Simone Pollo is Associate Professor of Moral Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy at Sapienza University of Rome. He is the author of two monographs (in Italian) on animal ethics: Umani e animali. Questioni di etica (2016) and Manifesto per un animalismo democratico (2021).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Part I: Philosophy And Ethics Of Human Animal/Relationships.- Chapter 2: Darwinian Biology and The New Understanding Of Animals.- Chapter 3: Animal Detection and Its Role On Our Attitude Towards Other Species.- Chapter 4: The Moral Value Of Animal Sentience And Agency.- Chapter 5: Affective Animal Ethics: Reflective Empathy, Attention and Knowledge Sub Specie Aeternitatis.- Part II: Transformations In General Scenarios.- Chapter 6: Perceiving Animals Through Different Demographic And Cultural Lenses.- Chapter 7: Animal Welfare In Context: Historical, Scientific, Ethical, Moral And One Welfare Perspectives.- Chapter 8: The Two Sides of the Human-Animal Bond: Reflections on Using and Abusing Animals.- Chapter 9: A Proposal For A Multi-Dimensional Profile Of The Animal Researcher.- Chapter 10: The Two Sides Of The Non-Human-Animal Bond. Reflections On Using And Abusing Animals.- Part III: Transformations In Cases and Contexts.- Chapter 11: Farms, Landscapes, Food, And Relationships.- Chapter 12: Biotechnologies And Animals: The Impact Of Genetic Engineering On Human-Animal Relationships.- Chapter 13: Coexisting With Wild Non-Human Primates In A Brazilian Semiarid Habitat.- Chapter 14: Companionship And Wellbeing: Benefits and Challenges Of Human-Pet Relationships.- Chapter 15: Human-Wildlife Coexistence In The Urban Domain: Promoting Welfare Through Effective Management, Responsibility And The Recognition Of Mutual Interest.- Part IV: Recognising Transformations.- Chapter 16: Political Representation Of Animals’ Voices.- Chapter 17: Animal Law. What Is Left To Be Said By The Law About Animals.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: William E Sander, DVM, MPH, BA (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: This book comes from a five-day symposium held to discuss human/animal welfare concerns across the spectrum. As such, the book tries to include historical perspectives as well as current perspectives of human/animal bond and welfare concerns spanning laboratory, livestock, companion animal, and wildlife species groups. This book makes the argument that utilization cannot be a justification for different standards on welfare and human/animal bond across these species and that it is critical for animals to be treated similarly across the spectrum.
Purpose: The purpose of the book is to encapsulate the human/animal relationship dynamic across species groups while pushing for a new approach in universally similar treatment to animals in each sector as they interact with people. This purpose drives the conversation forward and provides a good landing space when discussing this topic in an academic environment particularly.
Audience: The book is intended for students at the post-secondary level and scholars and it clearly hits that audience. This book is not intended nor is it as approachable for a lay audience or policymakers. Specifically, the book is applicable to those in philosophy, animal science, and even social work/public health. The contributing authors have solid credentials and background in this field providing strength to their arguments and discussion points.
Features: The book covers the evolution of the approach to animal relationships with people, from the theology perspective to a Darwinian perspective to the current animal welfare and rights perspective. This approach is then applied across different species groups and sectors highlighting some of the key differences currently between laboratory animal, livestock, companion animal, and wildlife interactions with humans and the limits of people's interactions and relationships with these groups. Illustrations are minimal and most contributions to each chapter are written in essay format.
Assessment: This book is a good reference, but it does not stand out from other resources currently available such as An Introduction to Human-Animal Relationships, Hollin (Routledge, 2021) and Animal Ethics in the Age of Humans, Bovenkerk and Keulartz (Springer, 2016).

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