3rd Days of animal STudies (27-29 October 2021)

Days of animal STudies is a scientific and popular manifestation dedicated to problems and issues concerning animals, i.e. human perception and relationships with animals. Its content is based on the concept of animal studies or cultural zoology, a concept instituted in our region by Nikola Visković, a polymath from Split and one of the pioneers of bioethics in Croatia. In this context, the manifestation strives for a multifaceted and all-encompassing overview of the human-animal relationship. In the framework of this enormous task, one should especially emphasize ethical reflection. Hence, the goal of Days of animal STudies is to describe and to morally evaluate human relationship toward non-human animals from different perspectives (scientific, artistic, cultural, etc.). As this relationship can still predominantly be described as disrespectful, one of the tasks of the manifestation is to contribute to public awareness of this matter. The insight into what animals are, what kind of moral regard they deserve, and how we treat them in that respect, presents an unavoidable requirement for the radical change of this treatment.

Even though this manifestation is international, it finds its initial inspiration in local sources and is particularly dedicated to the preservation of a local authentic animalistic impulse (with “animal STudies with capital ST” being a reference to Split, Croatia). One of such sources, alongside the mentioned, is certainly the work of the authentic Mediterranean, extravagant artist (primarily known as a musician), sailor, teacher, anarchist, and humanist (among his many other roles) Toma Bebić (Split, 1935–1990). Even though one of the “many other roles” of Bebić was that of mechanic and marine engineer, his opus is marked by suspicion toward technological development, primarily inspired by sincere infatuation with nature. In the context of Days of animal STudies, Toma’s multi-faceted work provokes, among other, topics such as regard toward domestic animals, consequences of technological development concerning animal and human, the relationship of humanism and animalism, the place of animals in art and Mediterranean lifestyle, animals in the context of education, etc.

More information about the manifestation can be found at the following link: 

https://www.ffst.unist.hr/_download/repository/3._DKA_abstracts.pdf

Anybody can join the online part of the conference at the following link: 

https://meet.google.com/asa-jbgy-dzk