Brute Souls, Happy Beasts, and Evolution
The Historical Status of Animals
Description
In this provocative inquiry into the status of animals in human society from the fifth century BC to the present, Rod Preece provides a wholly new perspective on the human-animal relationship. He skillfully demonstrates that, counter to prevailing intellectual opinion, ethical attitudes toward animals are neither restricted to the twentieth century nor the result of Darwin’s theory of evolution. They have been part of Western thought and culture for centuries.
Reviews
Preece argues against the naturalistic fallacy and suggests that historical, popular, and empirical issues are where one begins when establishing tenable moral beliefs. Thus he ties together the historical and moral analyses. This wise, well-written, scholarly book is filled with insights. Highly recommended.
- R. Werner, Hamilton College
A book of this breadth and depth rarely comes around ... I learned a lot by reading this book. Preece’s claims are well referenced ... It will be a very valuable resource for anyone interested in the complicated and frustrating interrelationships that have emerged between animals and humans.
- Marc Bekoff
In Brute Souls, Preece has shaped these findings into a very interesting and stimulating argument about the need to re-evaluate some widespread views on the historical status of animals within Western culture. Overall, this is a very interesting, well-researched book, impressive in scope and full of stimulating ideas. I recommend it to anyone concerned about the status of animals in society and about the development of ethical ideas and social justice in general.