LOJK10281U Animals in Society
MSc Programme in Animal-derived Foods (Food of Life) -Semi-compulsory
This course focuses on the role of animals in society. Relations
to animals are complex – animals are not ‘just out there in
Nature’. Animals are used in food production to the benefit of man
and serve as research animals in the medical sector. Moreover,
animals are used in nature preservation, as companion animals and
in competitive sports, but they also serve as prey for anglers and
hunters. The economic aspects of these relations between humans and
animals are important for society. In addition, the uses
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 uses of animals:
Animals and society.
This element concerns sociological aspects of the use of animals.
Departing in salient issues where conflicts over the use of animals
can be observed, it will be discussed how different societal actors
(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. During the lectures and exercises the students will be
presented to a number of sociological concepts and theories that
can be used to describe and understand human uses of animals. All
in all this will offer insights in the importance of different
sociodemographic, cultural, religious and historical background
factors, that can be used in the study of disagreements over animal
uses.
Economics of animals in society.
What are the economic considerations involved in running a zoo? Why
is it so difficult to increase market share for pork from loose
sows? What is the difference between measuring animal preferences
and human preferences? Do animal preferences count in cost benefit
analyses? These and other questions related to the economic aspects
of using animals are discussed in AiS. We introduce economic
aspects of the use of animals focusing on how different perceptions
of animal welfare can be included in economic analyses. 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. Using the concept of market failure,
economic arguments for regulating animal welfare are presented and
discussed.
Legal aspects of animal use.
This element focuses on the regulatory aspects of keeping and using
animals and what an animal is, seen from a legal point of view. We
will zoom in on different regulatory levels (international, EU and
national) and discuss various 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 market and
non-market 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
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Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 20 minutes---
- Exam registration requirements
Approval of project report
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Internal examiner
- Re-exam
Oral reexamination
Criteria for exam assesment
In order to obtain the highest grade (12), the student should be able to demonstrate the achievement of the knowledge, skills and competences listed in the in the section 'Learning Outcome' above.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LOJK10281U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- 40
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- The Study Board for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course responsibles
- Jesper Lassen (4-6d6f6476436c697572316e7831676e)
- Tove Christensen (4-77727968436c697572316e7831676e)