Key Notes on Human-Animal Relationships from Chapter 18
Introduction
- Human-animal relationships are diverse and omnipresent in various aspects of life (food, companionship, culture).
- Human-animal scholarship is an interdisciplinary field encompassing anthropology, sociology, psychology, and more.
18.1 Humans and Animals
Learning Outcomes
- Understand definitions of animals and the human-animal continuum.
- Define multispecies ethnography and highlight dog domestication.
The Human-Animal Continuum
- Nonhuman animals are crucial to human life: food, spirituality, symbolism.
- Definitions of an animal: multicellular organisms that breathe, move, and reproduce sexually.
- Aristotelian classification includes humans as animals with reasoning abilities.
- Linnaeus's binomial classification also places humans within the animal kingdom.
- Claude Lévi-Strauss's perspective emphasizes cultural distinctions between humans and animals, stating they are "good to think" about ourselves.
- Cultural practices create differing values assigned to animals (e.g., pets vs. food).
Multispecies Ethnography
- Emerging scholarship that looks into human-animal interactions as complex and not purely anthropocentric.
- Investigates cooperative relations such as symbiosis between humans and animals (e.g., herders and reindeer).
- Example studies from Izhma Komi and Nenets herding populations in Russia show deep interdependence and learned behaviors within animal groups.
Domestication of Dogs
- Dogs, believed to be among the first domesticated animals, have extensive historical roles.
- Their various breeds emerged from selective breeding mainly from wolves.
- Functions of domesticated dogs:
- Guarding: Natural instincts exploited via selective breeding.
- Hunting: Trained for their skills to retrieve and assist in hunting.
- Herding: Vital for pastoral societies as guides for livestock.
- Transportation: Used historically to carry loads, especially in cultures without large beasts of burden.
- Meat source: In some cultures, dogs are bred and consumed for food.
18.2 Animals and Subsistence
Learning Outcomes
- Explore empathy in human-animal relationships.
- Characterize the relationship between Indigenous people and animals.
Human-Animal Empathy in Subsistence
- Indigenous hunter-gatherer societies view animals as spiritual equals, maintaining reciprocal relationships.
- Ritualistic practices before hunts, like Yukaghir rituals, emphasize respect for animal spirits.
- Rock Cree Case Study: Reflects a complex relationship with animals as tied to identity and respect.
Indigenous Perspectives
- Rock Cree believe animals possess spirits and reincarnate. Killing an animal without respect risks their spirit's return.
- Detailed rituals around hunting and treating the remains emphasize the connection between humans and animals.
18.3 Symbolism and Meaning of Animals
Learning Outcomes
- Understand roles of totemism and religious significance of animals.
Totemism
- Totemism involves spiritual kinship with a particular animal or plant.
- Clans derive identity and social roles from their totems, reflecting broader human-nature relationships.
Animals in Oral Tradition
- Animals serve as characters in many myths and stories, imparting life lessons.
- Trickster Tales: Common in many cultures (e.g., coyote stories in Native American folklore).
Animals in Religion
- Animals act as sacrificial tokens and symbolize communication with the divine (e.g., doves in the Noah myth).
- Example: Guinea pigs in Andean rituals serve as offerings for healing and divination.
18.4 Pet-Keeping
Learning Outcomes
- Define pets as cultural artifacts and discuss their history in Western societies.
Pets as Cultural Artifacts
- Pets differ across cultures, reflecting affection, companionship, and economic trends.
- Modern pet keeping developed in the late 18th century as societies urbanized.
- Economic growth spurred the pet industry, including veterinary services and pet products.
Pet Keeping in Indigenous Societies
- Indigenous groups historically kept pets (birds, monkeys) to bond with nature.
- Examples include the Waraõ and Barasana, who care for various species as family members.
18.5 Animal Industries and the Animal Trade
Learning Outcomes
- Understand evolution of zoos and the impact of ecotourism.
Zoos
- Originated as symbols of status; modern conservation-focused institutions have emerged.
- Shifted from exhibition for entertainment to breeding and conservation efforts (CITES, ESA).
Ecotourism
- Designed to be sustainable, raising awareness and providing economic assistance for conservation.
- Example: Galápagos Islands—ecotourism contributes to preservation efforts.
Animals in Biomedical Research
- Millions of animals are used for research, raising ethical questions.
- Regulations like AWA exist to improve conditions, but not all animals are covered.
- Animal research has contributed significantly to medical advancements.
Conclusion
- The multifaceted relationship between humans and animals influences cultural identity, spirituality, and subsistence practices. Understanding these connections helps deepening our appreciation of animal roles in human lives.