Investigating The Animal-Human Relationship And The Perspectives Of Nonhuman Others
This is an early paper discussing the importance of studying human animal interactions. It explores a variety of issues inherent in the field of human-animal studies, including how to study animals without intervening in their lives or behaviors.
Article Abstract:
“Though they have not tended to be the focus of sociological attention in the past, interactions between humans and nonhuman animals are central to contemporary social life. This discussion presents the problems inherent in and the unique rewards offered by investigations of animal-human relationships. Of particular importance are the issues of whether one can and how one goes about assuming the perspective of alingual and/or nonhuman others. We also examine the inclination to intervene which arises when researchers gain intimate familiarity with animal perspectives in the typically unequal contexts in which they interact with humans. General issues of central sociological and social significance upon which the study of animal-human relationships can potentially shed light are identified.”
http://www.jstor.org/pss/4121103