Humans, Animals, and the Environment: Interconnected Issues for Humanist Sociologists

Humanist sociologists seek to address social problems and create positive social change. Humanist sociology tends to focus on issues of human rights, and thus humanist sociologists must challenge themselves to address issues pertaining to animals and the natural environment. For those who may not yet be convinced of the inherent import of animal and environmental issues, this essay explains how animal exploitation ultimately harms humans, either directly or through harming the natural environment. Thus, even if one were still caught in the anthropocentric grip of sociology’s past, animal issues can become relevant by virtue of their damage to humans. However, to achieve an emancipatory humanist sociology for humans, animals, and the environment, this anthropocentrism must be abolished alongside the capitalist structures that profit from their exploitation.