animal study 1

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The writers we have read this semester all present a new way of looking at the human/animal relationship, especially in terms of animal cognition and emotion.In a paper of 7-8 pages, you will include a bibliography of at least 12-15 academic sources, first discuss the “primary process emotions” in Panksepp and the Polyvagal Theory in Porges.Then use

Beckoff’s “science of animal well-being,” and De Waal’s formulations about the implications of evolutionary continuity and evolutionary cognition, as well as “anthropodenial.”

Then explain how, specifically, these concepts have made you think about animals differently, and what you think the consequences of thinking differently are.What can you do differently in your life in relation to animals based on the new information that you have?

Steps you should follow:

  • Present the “old” way of thinking about animals and what ideologies this way of thinking was based on (human exceptionalism, anthropocentrism) and give some specific examples of where you still see that thinking operating today.
  • Present Panksepp/Porges and their theories, and then the theories presented by two other writers from the list above that show a different way of thinking about animals and explain those concepts specifically and concretely, using passages from the books or articles to support what you say for each writer.
  • Explain what these concepts mean to you personally—how they have changed your thinking about animals, exactly, and what you can do with this information in terms of your daily life choices.Make this part of the paper very personal.Just for an example, you could explain how these concepts have made you understand your relationship to your own pets, or how it will affect your consumer choices, or how it might make you seek out relationships with animals in the future, how you treat other people, how you treat animals—whatever is true for you.
  • Be sure to provide page numbers for the quotations you use, and include a bibliography at the end.
  • I will be looking to see that you can explain the readings clearly, and that you have used those readings to rethink your own relationships to both humans and animals.
  • You can use specific academic references from outside the course to help you make your case if you wish, in addition to the course materials.