“Good” Anthropomorphism versus “Bad” Anthropomorphism: What is the Difference?

Thinking Like a Chicken Podcast
News & Views!

Artwork by Twyla Francois

Have you ever, when speaking up for animals, been accused of “anthropomorphism”? This accusation is often a handy way for animal exploiters to intimidate and silence objections to the mistreatment of animals as well as to ridicule our insistence that nonhuman animals have feelings and awareness just as we do. In this podcast I distinguish between false anthropomorphism and empathic anthropomorphism as quite different ways of inferring what other animals are communicating about themselves through their self-expressions. Please join me.

KAREN DAVIS, PhD is the President and Founder of United Poultry Concerns, a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl including a sanctuary for chickens in Virginia. Inducted into the National Animal Rights Hall of Fame for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Liberation, Karen is the author of numerous books, essays, articles and campaigns. Her latest book is For the Birds: From Exploitation to Liberation: Essays on Chickens, Turkeys, and Other Domesticated Fowl published by Lantern Publications & Media.

Karen with Rainbow the rooster.
Photo by Unparalleled Suffering Photography