LOJK10281U Animals in Society
MSc Programme in Animal-derived Foods (Food of Life)
This course focuses on the role of animals in society. Today’s
society has a complex relation to animals – animals are not ‘just
out there in Nature’. Animals are used in production to the benefit
of man to produce food, serve as research animals in the medical
sector, etc. Moreover, animals are used in nature preservation, as
companion animals and in competitive sports, but they also serve as
prey for anglers and hunters. For these relations between
humans/society and animals, economic and legal aspects are often
important - just as uses may cause conflicts over how or indeed if
we should use animals and thus highlight how different stakeholders
represent different interests. It is within this field, the course
will explore three aspects of the human and societal relation to
animals:
Animals and society.
This element concerns the non-economic aspects of the use of
animals. Departing in salient issues where conflicts over the use
of animals can be observed, this element discusses how different
societal stakeholders (including e.g. farmers, consumers, citizens,
vegans, vivisectionists, etc) view and legitimize the use of
animals for different purposes - and the values these different
perspectives represent. Thus this element provides a conceptual
tool to be used in studies of disagreements over animal uses, and
provides insight in the importance of different cultural,
religious, historical background.
Economic role of animals for society.
This element introduces economic aspects of animal welfare. The
point of departure is a discussion of how the keeping of animals -
and the level of welfare these animals experience - can be analysed
in a utility maximizing and/or profit maximizing framework. The
costs and benefits of animal welfare are discussed taking the
position of different stakeholders. Economic efficiency and
necessary trade offs in relation to animal welfare are discussed.
This leads to a presentation of the economic arguments for
regulating animal welfare using the concept of market failure.
Regulation of animal use.
This element focus on the regulatory aspects of keeping and use of
animals focusing on different regulatory levels (international, EU
and national) and different regulatory instruments. A range of
instruments (law, economic incentives, moral incentives,
information) are introduced, and pros and cons of each type of
regulatory instruments are discussed.
The overall objective of the course is to introduce the students
to societal aspects of the keeping and use of animals. This
includes in particular economic and sociological aspects. After
completion of the course it is expected that the student has
achieved the following qualifications:
Knowledge:
- Can demonstrate a basic understanding of the different roles of
animals in society and societal controversies over different uses
of animals
- Can characterize different stakeholders’ perceptions of animals
and animal uses
- can demonstrate a basic understanding of economic concepts of
importance for analyzing and describing economic aspects of animals
for society.
- Can characterize the economic importance of different uses of
animals
- Have a basic understanding of legal principles used in regulation
of different uses of animals.
Skills:
- Will be able to carry out an analysis of economic and societal
aspects of different uses of animals on a societal level.
- Can analyze and discuss the trade-off between economic and
non-economic aspects of uses of animals
- Will be able to analyze different stakeholders perceptions of the
use of animals
Competencies:
- Can reflect over societal and economic issues related to concrete
cases where animals are used and discuss these from the point of
view of different stakeholders.
- Can use the acquired knowledge and skills as a basis for
discussion of conflicts over the use of animals and suggest
possible societal robust solutions.
Will be announced on Absalon
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 1
- Lectures
- 28
- Preparation
- 66
- Project work
- 103
- Theory exercises
- 8
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 20 minutes---
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Two internal examiners
- Re-exam
- Oral reexamination
Criteria for exam assesment
Approval of project report
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LOJK10281U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- B (Mon 8-12 + Tues 13-17 + Fri 8-12)
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Veterinary Sciences
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course responsibles
- Jesper Lassen (4-6c6e6375426b687471306d7730666d)
- Tove Christensen (4-76717867426b687471306d7730666d)