Chapter 8: Questioning Animal Care and Compassion Under Neoliberal Market Conditions Through a Posthumanist Lens

Throughout epochs, humans have shaped a multifaceted relationship with animals, reflecting shifts in societal norms, advancing technological developments, and evolving intellectual paradigms. From the inaugural act of domesticating animals, which marked a cornerstone in human progress, to crafting complex ties in contemporary urban settings, humans have utilised animals for instrumental purposes (Hirschman, 1994) while persistently endeavouring to understand them. Humans engage with animals in ways that mirror their socio-cultural imperatives and highlight their ethical orientations and economic priorities. At the heart of this relationship lies the concept of animal labour. Animal labour involves using animals to achieve human objectives, encompassing roles in rural terrains, transportation sectors, entertainment industries, research settings, and broader industrial operations (Erbil, 2021). This extensive scope signifies how animals bolster human socio-economic, cultural, and technological endeavours. More specifically, animal labour reflects the gains humans procure from an animal’s body, whether through direct experimental engagement, extraction of physical components such as meat, skin, fur, and milk, utilisation of their innate physical strength in fields like transportation, or leveraging their sensory proficiencies, as observed in scent detection (Barua, 2019). Such a broad application underscores animals’ diverse roles in supporting human socio-economic, cultural, and technological pursuits. At the same time, humans cherish animals as companions and attribute them to profound spiritual significance (Belk, 1996). As civilisation progresses and diverse cultures blend, humans foster a more refined animal welfare ethos, promoting care and ethical stewardship, thereby sparking intricate debates and discussions that remain poignant in today’s academic and societal conversations (Franklin, 1999).