This course is not currently offered, please contact the school or faculty of your program.

Course description

This course explores the legal, regulatory, economic and philosophical issues associated with human-animal relationships in contemporary society. As an indicator of societal maturity, how animals are used for work, companionship, entertainment, research and consumption raise complex legal, ethical and regulatory issues. Adopting inter-disciplinary approaches, this course explores human-animal relationships through prevailing and traditional legal doctrines while inviting critique and evaluation through wider disciplines including philosophy, economics and science. Students will be challenged in their understanding of animals as they are traditionally conceptualised in law (including underlying philosophical assumptions) while critically evaluating how legal systems regulate and thus influence human-animal relationships.