Enlightenment's Animals: Changing Conceptions of Animals in the Long Eighteenth Century

Nathaniel Wolloch explores the changing conceptions of animals in European culture during the long eighteenth century, highlighting the shift from sensory and cognitive characteristics to economic resources. He discusses developments in seventeenth-century Dutch culture, the Scottish Enlightenment, and other countries, offering a fresh perspective on a significant topic in modern scholarship.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 10 January 2019
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

Nathaniel Wolloch's book "The Enlightenment's Animals" offers a comprehensive exploration of changing conceptions of animals in European culture during the long eighteenth century. By integrating discussions of intellectual history, the history of science, the history of historiography, the history of economic thought, and art history, Wolloch provides a multifaceted analysis of how animals were discussed and conceived in various intellectual and artistic contexts. In the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the primary focus was on the sensory and cognitive characteristics of animals. However, during the late Enlightenment, a new outlook emerged, emphasizing their conception as economic resources. Wolloch's book primarily focuses on seventeenth-century Dutch culture and the Scottish Enlightenment, while also providing insights into developments in other countries. This book is a valuable contribution to modern scholarship, shedding light on the evolving relationship between humans and animals during this period of significant intellectual and cultural change.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462987623
Edition number: 0