People, Property, or Pets?

by Marc Hauser, Fiery Cushman (Editor)

A child can't be owned, but parents are legally responsible for their child's care. A painting and a dog can be owned; both fall under the jurisdiction of the law and in particular, property rights. But why should a dog, man's best friend, an animal with a mind and emotions, fall under the same category as a painting? How could the law be so foolish? Requiring legal guardianship for animals would have radical consequences for how we live our lives.

230 pages, Hardcover

First published January 30, 2006

About the author

My training is the biological sciences, but with broad interests in human nature, including its evolution. My writings, including academic and trade books, as well as over 200 scientific papers, cover the disciplines of animal behavior, evolutionary biology, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, biological anthropology, evolutionary psychology, linguistics, economics, cognitive development, and philosophy. From 1992-2010 I was a professor at Harvard University. From 2010 and ongoing, I am working with at-risk youths, harnessing the discoveries of the mind and brain sciences to both bring new tools to this important are of education and human welfare, and to help ameliorate the lives of these children. I continue to work on scientific papers, teach, and write for the general public.