ANT376H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Stoicism, Cockroach, Anthropocentrism
Document Summary
Human-animal studies focuses on interactions between humans and animals wherever and whenever we find them. Different animal-human expectations in urban vs. natural landscapes. Challenge anthropocentrism -> nonhuman turn (larger shift to de-centre the human towards nonhuman) Critical animal studies: justice approach (inequality, social stratification) Animal histories: history from below; animals as historical subjects. Trojan horse syndrome: a ploy/insidious kind of trick used to gain access to something. The word animal = a trojan horse. Privileging an aspect of yourself - admitting seeds of animality. Problems of getting the beast in us. Western thinking of being constantly vigilant; constant policing between the line of animality and humans - important to know about the animal in us and staying human . Scientific explanations of animal behaviour reflect a certain pattern and logic where you"re parsimonious/ockham"s razor. Although other more complicated explanations may be more truthful; in the absence of certainty the fewer suggestions you make the better (ockham)
