From the Middle Ages to modernity: the struggle for animal rights in Germany

From the Middle Ages to modernity: the struggle for animal rights in Germany

As part of a lecture on the legal history of animals, Professor Dr. Andreas German the complex relationship between humans and animals. This lecture, which is part of the accompanying program for the exhibition "loved, hated, eaten: Cologne animals between cage and basket", takes the audience on a journey into the past, in which animals had legal relevance. The city of Cologne reports that in 1644 a billy goat in Detmold was executed by the executioner. Near Cologne, harmful wolves were hung on the gallows, which illustrates the practice of condemning animals at the time.

The legal recognition of animals was greater in the Middle Ages than in later centuries. In the 17th century, however, there were cruel attacks on animals, such as the deliberate combination of cats for entertainment purposes. The first animal rights activists raised the floor with the increasing grievances. The first judgments against cruelty to animals followed in the 18th century, and the first animal welfare laws were introduced about 200 years ago. These early steps towards animal welfare form the foundation for modern animal welfare and animal rights movement.

The development of the animal protection movement

The modern animal rights movement is an important sociopolitical appearance that has existed since the 19th century. It developed from a change in consciousness in dealing with animals, influenced by various ideologies. According to the Federal Center for Political Education, animal welfare became a reformist imperative during this time that was closely linked to Philanthropic ideals. Vegetarianism gained public perception and turned into fashion from a quirk.

Organized animal welfare began in the early 19th century in Great Britain with the adoption of the first animal protection law in 1822 and the foundation of the RSPCA two years later. The first animal protection association was built in Germany in 1837. At the end of the 19th century, the animal welfare movement split into civil animal welfare and radical antivivisectionism. The first German animal rights group, the Association for Radical Ethics, was founded in 1907.

radicalization and philosophical basics

The animal rights movement has radicalized over the years. After the Second World War, the movement in Great Britain re -formed, while the German animal welfare movement remained isolated. New animal welfare associations were built in Germany in the 1970s, and in 1984 the Federal Association of Animal Experience opponents was founded. Philosophical approaches such as Peter Singer's preferritarianism and Tom Regan's principles influenced this movement significantly.

The animal rights movement developed a new methodical repertoire and continued to radicalize. In 1976 the Animal Liberation Front was founded in Great Britain, while militant animal rights activists in Germany first became active in 1981. These developments led to a division of movement in Germany, while more democratic structures were established in Great Britain.

In the past few decades, the animal rights movement has had a significant impact on social discourses. She has discussed fundamental differences between animal welfare and animal rights: While animal protection aims to avoid "unnecessary suffering", animal law strives to dissolve species of species.

Overall, the animal rights movement has initiated a new awareness of dealing with animals. Even if progress has been made, industrial user use remains, and the approaches to improvements vary between reforms and the demand for the abolition of the pet use.

The developments in the animal welfare movement are closely linked and show how deep the roots of animal welfare are anchored in history. The discussion about the relationship between humans and animals remains relevant, and events such as that of Professor Dr. Andreas Deutsch promote the understanding of the multi -layered aspects of this topic.