Anthrozoology- An Emerging Robust Multidisciplinary Sub-field of Anthropology

Abstract

Humans have long engaged with nonhuman animals since the beginning of their journey on the planet Earth. Both human and nonhuman species are co-existing and sharing the world forming multi-dimensional relationships. Although the non-humans are hunted, manipulated, domesticated, consumed or sometimes go extinct by humans, they are also respected, worshiped, symbolized, conserved as well as adored in human societies. For a long time, different academic disciplines have considered the nonhuman animals in a utilitarian approach, considering them as objects for humanity. Therefore, the intangible aspects of emotional (affection & trust) and relational bonds between humans and nonhumans have been commonly unrecognized. However, rapid growing interests are seen on the study of human and non-human animal relationships in contemporary academic discourses, resulted through various approaches of anthrozoology, an emerging field of anthropological science. Showing its origin, development, study fields, complexities and future perspectives, this paper is aimed to present the essence of anthrozoological studies in Turkey and other countries in Asia and Africa.

Keywords

• Human-animal bonds;,Anthrozoology;,Sociology;,Anthropology;,Turkey;

Antropoloji’de ortaya çıkan çok-disiplinli güçlü bir alt bilim: Antrozooloji

Abstract

İnsanlar, dünya gezegenindeki yolculuğunun başlangıcından beri uzun bir süredir insan dışı hayvanlarla bağ kurmaktadır. Çok boyutlu ilişkiler oluşturarak hem insanlar hem de insan dışı türler birlikte var olmakta ve dünyayı paylaşmaktadırlar. İnsan dışı hayvanlar insanlar tarafından avlanır, manipüle edilir, evcilleştirilir, tüketilir ve bazen kendi türün yok olunmasına rağmen insan toplumlarında saygı görür, ibadet edilir, sembolize edilir, korunur ve kutlanılmaktadır. İnsanlık için bir nesne olarak gördükleri ile uzun zamandır farklı akademik disiplinler, insan dışı hayvanları kullanıcı bir yaklaşım olarak görmekteydi. Bu nedenle, insanlar ve insan dışı hayvanlar arasındaki maddi olmayan duygusal (sevgi ve güven) ve ilişkisel bağların yönleri genel olarak bilinmemektedir. Fakat antropoloji biliminin bir alt dalı olarak ortaya çıkan antrozooloji'nin çeşitli yaklaşımlarıyla, çağdaş akademik söylemlerde insan ve insan dışı hayvanlar arasındaki ilişkileri üzerinde hızlı bir şekilde artan ilgiler görülmektedir. Bu inceleme kökenini, gelişimini, çalışma alanlarını, karmaşıklıklarını ve gelecekteki perspektiflerini göstererek Türkiye ile birlikte diğer Asya ve Afrika ülkelerindeki antrozoolojik çalışmaların önemini sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

• İnsan-hayvan ilişki,Antrozooloji,Sosyology,Antropoloji,Türkiye;

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