International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

ISSN 2220-8488 (Print), 2221-0989 (Online) 10.30845/ijhss

Humane Education, the Inner Worlds of Animals and Animal Assisted Therapy
Dr. Marla Morris

Abstract
This paper will explore humane education, the inner worlds of nonhuman animals and animal assisted therapy. Humane education must include the study of relations between nonhuman animals and human animals. In order to understand these relations scholars must acknowledge that nonhuman animals do indeed have inner worlds. Those who engage in what is called AAT or animal assisted therapy would benefit from the study of the inner worlds of animals. The literature on the inner worlds of animals (which is called ethology) is usually separate and apart from the literature on AAT or animal assisted therapy. Scholars should consider studying these two literatures side by side so as to flesh out in depth what humane education should be. We argue in this paper that nonhuman animals are not merely co-helpers but are therapists in their own right.

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