Sacred, Symbolic, and Contested

Critical Perspectives on Human-Animal Relations in Culture and Society
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-90-04-73310-7
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 31, 306 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

Reihe: Human-Animal Studies

Sacred, Symbolic, and Contested explores how animals are revered, represented, and disputed across global cultures. Through vivid case studies—from sacred cows in India to ritual slaughter in Judaism and animal commodification in industrial societies—this book reveals how human-animal relationships express deep ethical, religious, and political tensions. You’ll encounter surprising contradictions: animals celebrated in myth yet mistreated in practice or protected in law yet consumed in daily life. Drawing on sociology, religious studies, and critical animal studies, this timely work invites you to rethink the role of animals in shaping human identity, culture, and moral responsibility.

Autoren/Hrsg.

S Szarycz, Gregory

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Umweltsoziologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

List of Tables and Figures

Introduction

Part 1: Sacred

Introduction to Part 1

1 Sacred Souls, Cursed Beings: Unveiling the Treatment of Animals across World Religions 1 Religious Roots of Utilitarian Treatment of Animals? 2 Ancient Egyptian Beliefs and Their Reverence for Animals 3 Separatism or Harmony with Nature? Re-evaluating Prehistoric Ideologies and Human–Environmental Relationships 4 Confronting Taboos 5 Ceremonial Purity 6 Slaughter

2 Traditional Folk Beliefs and the Role of Animals in Polish Rural Rites

3 From Tradition to Modernity: the Evolution of Ritual Slaughter in Islamic Culture 1 Commands Regarding Ritual Slaughter of Animals 2 Controversies Regarding Dhabihah Ritual Slaughter 3 The Debate Regarding Ritual Animal Slaughter in France and Worldwide

4 Of Gods and Gills: a Historical Exploration of Fish in Culture 1 From the Sacred to the Profane 2 Ancient Gods 3 Twilight of the Ancient Gods

Part 2: Symbolic

Introduction to Part 2

5 Between Rationalism and Sentimentalism: Philosophical Considerations Regarding Ethical Norms Concerning Animals 1 Biological Chauvinism and the Concept of Speciesism 2 Anthropocentrism and Hominism in Philosophy 3 New Bio-ethics: a Paradigm Shift 4 Final Thoughts

6 From Companions to Companionship: Navigating Human–Animal Interactions and the Rise of Animaltronics in Japan 1 Philosophical Systems and Religious Influences on Human–Animal Relations in Japan 2 The Evolution of Practices Related to Animal Slaughter 3 Companion Animals in Contemporary Japan 4 Robotic Animals—Continuity in the Human–Animal Relationship? 5 Animals Caught in the Trap of Anthropomorphism

7 Horse and Human: a Partnership through the Ages 1 A Pragmatic Alliance: a Historical Perspective on Human– Horse Interaction 2 The Evolution of Breeding Practices

8 The Snake in the Tradition of Cultures and Religions: an Outline of Selected Issues 1 The Snake in Mythologies, Beliefs, and Symbolism 2 The Snake as Life Symbol

9 Animal Insults: Why Do We Refer to Animals When Insulting Someone? 1 Linguistic Examples 2 General Conclusions 3 Strategic-Manipulative Interpretation 4 Flat Ontology and Dark Ecology 5 Non-dualistic Language

Part 3: Contested

Introduction to Part 3

10 The Era of Defaunation: Civilization at War with Animals 1 Animals and Our Ancestors 2 Current Efforts to Safeguard Biodiversity 3 The “Great Acceleration” in the Loss of Biological Diversity 4 Scientists’ Wake-up Call to Humanity and the Extent of Animal Decline 5 The Causes of Species Extinction 6 Planetary Boundaries and Species Extinction 7 A World on the Edge 8 The Great Killing

11 Paws and Hooves in the Polar Snow: Careless Compassion in Extreme Environments? 1 The Great Antarctic Quest: the English Expedition Takes Shape 2 Pain, Suffering, and Death 3 Discussion and Conclusions

12 Animals in Sport and Entertainment: a Cultural Lens on Controversial Encounters 1 Horses in Sport and Recreation 2 Canine Sports and Activities 3 The Global History and Culture of Horse Racing 4 Greyhound Racing and Unusual Animal Races 5 Ethical Concerns and Training Practices 6 From Ritual to Brutality: Historical Animal Combat 7 Rodeo: Tradition, Sport, and Contention 8 Hunting, Falconry, and Human–Animal Partnerships 9 From Pigeon Shooting to Modern Clay Target Sports 10 Exotic Pets and Extreme Breeds 11 Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Captivity 12 Circus Animals and the Decline of Animal Acts 13 From Groundhog Day to Cultural Folklore 14 Conclusion: toward Ethical Entertainment

13 The Plea for Life: Animal Mercy Rights Examined through the Corrida de Toros 1 Pardoning Animals in History 2 Clemency Law during Corrida de Toros 3 Those That Survived 4 Is Bullfighting a Cultural Phenomenon? 5 Concerts, Cabarets, and Corridas

14 Animal Welfare in China: Exploring Philosophical Foundations and Legal Frameworks 1 Animals in Chinese Philosophy 2 Legal Protection of Animals in China 3 People’s Republic of China Wildlife Protection Law 4 Amendment to the Wildlife Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China 5 Concluding Thoughts

Conclusion 1 Integrative Perspectives on Human–Animal Relations 2 Rethinking Ethical Frameworks and Cultural Narratives 3 Implications for Environmental and Social Policy 4 Future Research Directions 5 Concluding Reflections

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Gregory S. Szarycz is a cultural sociologist whose interdisciplinary work spans human-animal studies, ritual, and symbolic identity. He has written about animal metaphors in the Old Testament in Between the Species and animal performativity in Brill’s Theorizing Animals (2011).