People and Other Animals
As taught in: Fall 2010
A North American beaver in its native habitat. (Photo from the U.S. National Park Service.)
Instructors:
Prof. Harriet Ritvo
MIT Course Number:
21H.909J / 21H.969J / 21A.390J / 21A.835J
Level:
Course Highlights
This course contains archived syllabi from various semesters.
Course Description
This class provides a historical survey of the ways that people have interacted with their closest animal relatives, for example: hunting, domestication of livestock, exploitation of animal labor, scientific study of animals, display of exotic and performing animals, and pet keeping. Themes include changing ideas about animal agency and intelligence, our moral obligations to animals, and the limits imposed on the use of animals.


