Animal Captivity class takes first steps toward building better human, non-human relationships
One of Elon University’s top goals is turning students into global citizens. But in a world where humans represent a small percentage of total life on this planet, where do non-humans fall into this plan? Students in Martin Fowler’s upper-level philosophy class “Animal Captivity: Zoos, Sanctuaries and Asylums” have been delving into this question since the class was first taught in Spring 2012 — and they may have recently found an answer. It all started when senior Thomas Berry, a philosophy major who took Animal Captivity in Spring 2012, came up with the initial concept of developing a place on Elon’s campus where humans and animals can coexist symbiotically. “Thomas had thought about this as a Leadership Fellow for a legacy project,” said Fowler, lecturer in philosophy.
