Books: History/Philosophy - Relationship Human/Non-Human
The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals
E.P Evans
"an amazing assemblage of court cases in which animals have been named as defendants" Originally published in 1906. Interesting how animals used to be tried in courts while they were/are not considered having souls or free will etc.
Submitted by LisaJ [Write Review]
Review by Mandingo (04/25/06 12:59:52):
The book gives an interesting historical background to the idea that animals would be independantly capable of commiting crimes. The text is actually a reproductions of medieval case studies of lawyers who defended animals in matters of excommunication and pestilence. The pests are duelly warned to leave town in most cases and to quit neighboring areas, then if the pests do not leave they are warned of their fourthcoming prosecution. In one case, a town in France charged and found guilty the eels of a particular lake and warned them that if they did not vacate the lake or stop depleting it of it's fish resources, they would be excommunicated from the church as well as condemned to a plague by God and thus, be smited. It's interesting to see the mix of religious dogma and the way they use it to punish the convicted as well as to prove that the creature did willfully intend to harm the lands around them. Both entertaining and highly thought-provoking I would fully recommend a person takes this one chapter at a time to enhance their day. This book really scews the beliefs we have today in our supposedly "enlightened" era of understanding when it comes to our animal neighbors.
E.P Evans
"an amazing assemblage of court cases in which animals have been named as defendants" Originally published in 1906. Interesting how animals used to be tried in courts while they were/are not considered having souls or free will etc.
Submitted by LisaJ [Write Review]
Review by Mandingo (04/25/06 12:59:52):
The book gives an interesting historical background to the idea that animals would be independantly capable of commiting crimes. The text is actually a reproductions of medieval case studies of lawyers who defended animals in matters of excommunication and pestilence. The pests are duelly warned to leave town in most cases and to quit neighboring areas, then if the pests do not leave they are warned of their fourthcoming prosecution. In one case, a town in France charged and found guilty the eels of a particular lake and warned them that if they did not vacate the lake or stop depleting it of it's fish resources, they would be excommunicated from the church as well as condemned to a plague by God and thus, be smited. It's interesting to see the mix of religious dogma and the way they use it to punish the convicted as well as to prove that the creature did willfully intend to harm the lands around them. Both entertaining and highly thought-provoking I would fully recommend a person takes this one chapter at a time to enhance their day. This book really scews the beliefs we have today in our supposedly "enlightened" era of understanding when it comes to our animal neighbors.