Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Animal protection
(927 words)

Animal protection includes both the increasing awareness of animals as living beings socially, culturally, and politically speaking in need of protection from human cruelty, and institutional and legal systems for implementing such protection. As part of a broader movement, European animal protection had its roots in Christian tradition (Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas). Ancient philosophical traditions (Pythagoras, Porphyry) emphasizing kindness towards animals and vegetarianism were the subject of increasing reception from the 18th century.

At the dawn of the ear…

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Boddice, Rob, “Animal protection”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_028912>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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