Actualité
Appels à contributions
Pet Theories: Animals in the 18th century, an interdiscipinary conference

Pet Theories: Animals in the 18th century, an interdiscipinary conference

Publié le par Alexandre Gefen (Source : Laura Baudot)

Pet Theories: Animals in the 18th Century
May 11, 2002 Princeton University


An interdisciplinary conference partially funded by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded by the Graduate school of Princeton University.
Guest Speaker, Aaron Garrett, author of Animal Rights and Souls in the 18th Century


Despite the neo-classical injunction, the proper study of man is man, animals often rivaled "man" as objects of fascination and study in the 18th century. Investigations into the nature of the human--whether moral,physical, or fictional--frequently drew from the animal kingdom. Such treatment of animals often upset the very notion of a division between the human and the animal. This blurring of boundaries is evident, for example,in the discourse of sympathy.

Along side this categorical instability was a drive embodied in natural history to take stock of the natural world through classification of the species.
The role played by animals in 18th century culture and thought was by no means limited to these functions or generic categories. The Princeton Eighteenth Century Society (PECS), invites papers for its annual conference that explore animals, from the molecular to the fabulous, in any of their various roles, functions and representations in this period. As usual we welcome contributions from all disciplines.

If you would like to present a 20-minute paper, please send a 250 to 300 word abstract by March 25, 2002 to pecs@princeton.edu

Questions, feel free to email Laura Baudot, ljbaudot@princeton.edu or Lucien Nouis, lnouis@princeton.edu.