LFU:online

This lecture series is based on a cooperation between the work group on ethics at the teacher training college (Dr. Alois Wechselberger) and LIFE – the university-based interest group for animal rights (Karin Schachinger, BA) and the human-animal study group at the University of Innsbruck (Dr. Reingard Spannring). It will analyze the complex relationships between human and nonhuman animals from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will gain a broad insight into a range of scientific methods and approaches to the topic. At the same time a critical attitude and the courage to question longstanding paradigms will be fostered.

Research into the multidimensional relationships between humans and nonhuman animals has become a respected scientific discipline that is attracting a lot of attention. The issue of “the human and the animal” can no longer be ignored in modern scientific discourse. “Chimpanzees have bruised the self-image of the human more than most philosophers” [P. F. Weber: Der domestizierte Affe. 2005, S. 13]. The 21^st century will (have to) bring a fundamental revision of the relationship between humans and nonhuman animals. The human being will no longer be able to pass either practically or ethically the scientific insights with regard to nonhuman beings (e.g. primatology). The human being is only a (little) part of the “community of creatures”. This leads to the conviction that this interdisciplinary lecture series not only focuses on an issue that has been central to biology, ecology and ethology, but also one that is increasingly important in the social sciences and the humanities as well as of central concern for the general public – as indicated by the enormous interest of the students in our first lecture series in fall 2012/13 (nearly 1000 registrations).

What the Human-Animal Studies are and what they are trying to uncover, will be shown exemplarily in 20 lectures from a diversity of disciplines, as for example:

-  Reinhard Heuberger (Linguistik): „Anthropozentrik in der Sprache“;

-  Reingard Spannring (Erziehungswissenschaften): „Massentierhaltung - Eine Herausforderung für die Pädagogik.“;

-  Sabine Fick (Alte Geschichte): „Mensch und Tier im alten Ägypten“;

-  Tamara Pfeiler (Psychologie): „Wen streicheln, wen essen? Zur Psychologie von Mensch- Tier-Beziehungen“;

-  Anne Siegetsleitner (Philosophie): „Haben Tiere eine Würde?“;

-  Katharina Petter (Ernährungswissenschaft): „Ethische Ernährung“;

-  Martin Balluch (Philosophie / Praktische Tierrechte): „Zur praktischen Umsetzung tierrechtsphilosophischer Gedanken“.

and many more.

Everybody interested in the topic, also from outside academia, is very welcome.

Lecture and discussion.

Written reflection of the lecture series.

If anybody needs a different type of exam, we can make provisions.

Ach, J. S. / Stephany, M. (Hg.), Die Frage nach dem Tier. Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven auf das Mensch-Tier-Verhältnis, Münster 2010.

Balluch, M., Die Kontinuität von Bewusstsein. Das naturwissenschaftliche Argument für Tierrechte. Wien / Mülheim a.d.R. 2005.

Cavalieri P., Die Frage nach den Tieren. Für eine erweiterte Theorie der Menschenrechte (Tierrechte – Menschenpflichten 8), Erlangen 2002.

Chimaira – Arbeitskreis für Human-Animal Studies (Hg.): Human-Animal Studies. Über die gesellschaftliche Natur von Mensch-Tier-Verhältnissen, Bielefeld 2011.

Chimaira – Arbeitskreis für Human-Animal Studies (Hg.), Tiere, Bilder, Ökonomien – Aktuelle Forschungsfragen der Human-Animal Studies, Bielefeld 2013.

DeMello, M., Animals and Society. An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies, New York 2012.

Joy, M., Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows. An Introduction to Carnism: The Belief System That Enables Us to Eat Some Animals and Not Others, San Francisco 2011 (dt.: Münster ²2013).

Kaplan, H. F., Die Ethische Weltformel – Eine Moral für Menschen und Tiere, Neukirch-Egnach 2003.

Kompatscher, G. / Classen, A. / Dinzelbacher, P., Tiere als Freunde im Mittelalter. Eine Anthologie, Badenweiler 2010.

Otterstedt, C. / Rosenberger, M. (Hg.), Gefährten – Konkurrenten – Verwandte. Die Mensch-Tier-Beziehung im wissenschaftlichen Denken, Göttingen 2009.

Serpell, J., In the Company of Animals. A Study of Human-Animal Relationships (Canto original series), New York 2008

Siegetsleitner, A., Zur Würde nichtmenschlicher Lebewesen. In: Odparlik, S. / Kunzmann, P. (Hg.): Eine Würde für alle Lebewesen? München 2007, 103–118

Waal, F. de, Der Affe in uns. Warum wir sind, wie wir sind, München / Wien 2006

The lecture series will be recognized by several disciplines of the various faculties of the Innsbruck University. The students whose subject isn’t mentioned above are asked to talk to their educational deans.