Anthrozoology- An Emerging Robust Multidisciplinary Sub-field of Anthropology

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 22 - 35, 28.07.2017

Abu Bakar Siddiq , Ahsan Habib

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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