Modern History of Pragmatic and Sentimental Attitudes Toward Animals and the Selling of Comparative Psychology

The philosophical extremes of Michel de Montaigne and René Descartes regarding animals are contrasted with the more moderate position of Charles Darwin. Tensions between extreme and more moderate positions are traced from Montaigne and Descartes through late 19th and early 20th century popular magazine articles written by eminent psychologists. Popular magazine articles helped shape public awareness of comparative psychology and created an important climate of expectation about what the new discipline could accomplish. In view of recent threats to comparative psychology, it may be necessary for animal researchers to follow the lead of pioneer psychologists and go to the public through the popular press to argue that a moderate philosophy is in the best interest of humans, animals, and the future of comparative psychology.