Carlow College, St Patrick’s invites papers and panel proposals from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives on the theme of animal rights, welfare and the human-animal relationship, from the eighteenth century to the present. Richard Martin (1754-1834), a politician and animal rights campaigner, was a founding member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and was instrumental in the passing of the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act, 1822, legislation aimed at protecting the treatment of cattle.

This conference celebrates Martin’s contribution and builds on his legacy by exploring the development and evolution of thought on the question of the Human-Animal relationship through an interdisciplinary lens.  All facets of the intersections between the human and animal interaction are eligible for investigation. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Philosophical interpretations of the Human-Animal relationship
• Ethical frameworks concerning animal rights and their evolution over time
• The representation of animal rights and welfare in literature and the portrayal of Human-Animal dynamics across genres
• The impact of how contemporary animal welfare debates influenced literary narratives and genres
• The historical evolution of animal rights and the contributions of social reformers and animal advocates in this area
• The social history of Human-Animal relations in the context of urbanisation and industrialisation
• The role of animals in human cultural practices and belief systems
• Animal welfare movements and their socio-political impact across centuries
• The contemporary importance of animal welfare in modern society
• The social relevance of animal rights in interdisciplinary and comparative contexts
• Human empathy towards animals – cogitative and emotional dimensions
• The psychological analysis of the Human-Animal relationship
• Social and anthropological interpretations of the Human-Animal dynamic