The history of animal welfare and its connection to ethics

J.L. Harfeld

The history of animal welfare and its connection to ethics

于EurSafe2024 Proceedings

著者：

J.L. Harfeld

J.L. Harfeld Department of Culture and Learning, Aalborg University, Denmark

Search for other papers by J.L. Harfeld in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

类型:: 章节

Page Range:: 193–198

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004715509_032

您获得访问的方式：

Dar Hadith al Hassania

下载PDF

This extended abstract explores the evolution of the concept of animal welfare from its ancient roots to its contemporary scientific and ethical framework. The discourse begins in ancient Egypt, with the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus offering early insights into animal husbandry practices that imply a nascent awareness of animal welfare. This historical thread extends to the philosophical inquiries of ancient Greece, where figures like Aristotle and Pythagoras engaged in early explorations of animal cognition and thriving, suggesting an understanding of animal well-being that transcends mere survival. The Enlightenment period marks a significant paradigm shift, with thinkers such as Frederik Christian Eilschov and later Jeremy Bentham advocating for the consideration of animal welfare on ethical grounds, independent of religious or utilitarian justifications. This era catalysed a departure from theological frameworks towards a secular, ethically grounded approach to animal welfare, emphasizing the intrinsic value of animals’ experiences and their rights to live free from undue suffering. The modern concept of animal welfare crystallized around the turn of the 20th century, paralleling the rise of animal protection societies in Europe, notably among others the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals. Charles Westley Hume played a pivotal role in this development, founding the University of London Animal Welfare Society (later the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW)). Hume’s vision was to establish animal welfare as a legitimate field of scientific inquiry, integrating ethical considerations with rigorous scientific research. UFAW’s mission attracted significant attention, despite initial challenges, setting the stage for the concept’s gradual acceptance within the scientific community. The evolution of animal welfare reflects a complex interplay between ethical imperatives and scientific inquiry, demonstrating a consistent recognition of animals as sentient beings deserving of ethical consideration across cultures and epochs. This historical journey underscores the importance of conceptual awareness in animal behaviour and welfare sciences, as understanding the origins and trajectories of concepts like animal welfare can enrich scientific inquiry and ethical considerations, enhancing the well-being of animals under human care – and perhaps in the wild. The concept of animal welfare, young in its scientific application yet ancient in its ethical implications, continues to evolve, challenging us to reconsider our interactions with animals and our responsibilities toward both scientific enquiry and animal welfare.

引用信息

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share Link

Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/edcollchap-oa/book/9789004715509/BP000032.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

折叠
展开
回到页面顶端

EurSafe2024 Proceedings

Back to the future - Sustainable innovations for ethical food production and consumption

ISBN:: 9789004715509

出版社:: Wageningen Academic

印刷出版日期:: 03 Sep 2024

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General

统计数据

	全部期间	过去一年	过去30天
摘要浏览次数	0	0	0
全文浏览次数	571	270	35
PDF下载次数	805	436	47

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

AppBar-Authors 2025

AppBar-Open Access 2025

AppBar-Product Information 2025

AppBar-Company 2025

AppBar-Contact 2025

The history of animal welfare and its connection to ethics

引用信息

Share Link

EurSafe2024 Proceedings

Back to the future - Sustainable innovations for ethical food production and consumption

目录

统计数据

统计数据