HIST 252 - Animal Behavior and Human Morality in Historical Perspective

FDR: HU Humanities Distribution
Credits: 3

We trace the history of the study of animal behavior in its bearing on human morality, from the beginning of the professionalization of the subject around 1800 till the present day. Often, tentative connections have been and are being made between the ways animals behave and how humans conduct themselves, thus conferring legitimacy on shared traits. The line of argument in making these linkages is simple and straightforward: if animals behave in certain ways, these ways are natural and therefore, beyond reproach; if humans share these traits, they, too, must be considered free of blame. Issues of gender and sexuality traditionally have been at the forefront of these considerations, but also the institutions of marriage, family, slavery, systems of government - monarchy, republic, etc. - as well as war, aggression, altruism and more have been argued for or against on the basis of animal examples.