People and Other Animals

Course Description

This course is a historical exploration of the ways that people have interacted with their closest animal relatives, for example: hunting, domestication of livestock, exploitation of animal labor, scientific study of animals, display of exotic and performing animals, and pet-keeping. Themes include changing ideas about animal agency and intelligence, our moral obligations to animals, and the limits imposed on the use of animals. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.

Other OCW Versions

Archived versions:

• 21H.909J People and Other Animals (Fall 2010)
• 21H.909 People and Other Animals (Fall 2005)

Course Collections

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Find Courses by Topic

• History > History of Science and Technology
• History > Intellectual History
• Anthropology > Cultural Anthropology