The project will explore the discussions on the rights of animals and the duties of humans towards them, particularly within natural law, in the Swedish university environment in the period ca 1680–1760. This includes a survey and careful study of hitherto neglected sources. It also includes answering new and important research questions: To what extent were animals considered to have rights? What duties were humans considered to have in relation to animals? How did these academics understand animals and their relations to human society, to God and to his creation? Who were the intellectuals engaged in such discussions, and what were their motivations? Why did they discuss the rational, sensitive and ethical capacities of animals as extensively as they did?
The project is limited to the kingdom of Sweden. The texts have been singled out as a result of a preliminary study conducted by the applicant and following previous research, which has pointed to Uppsala and Åbo universities in particular as showing interest in the rights of and duties towards animals. The contextualization of these ideas will include study of the relevant discussions on the continent, but the academic milieu in Sweden will constitute the primary object of investigation.
The work in progress will be presented at seminars and conferences. Two preliminary articles will be published, and at the end of the project, results will be presented in a short monograph.