2016/01/13 by Eva Haifa Giraud, Gregory Hollin · 1 voice · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Social Sciences · #Geographies of human-animal interactions #Posthumanist Ethics and Activism #Race, Genetics, and Society
paper · doi:10.1177/0263276415619685
openalex publication_date 2016/01/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/17
A caring approach to knowledge production has been portrayed as epistemologically radical, ethically vital and as fostering continuous responsibility between researchers and research-subjects. This article examines these arguments through focusing on the ambivalent role of care within the first large-scale experimental beagle colony, a self-professed ‘beagle utopia’ at the University of California, Davis (1951–86). We argue that care was at the core of the beagle colony; the lived environment was re-shaped in response to animals ‘speaking back’ to researchers, and ‘love’ and ‘kindness’ were important considerations during staff recruitment. Ultimately, however, we show that care relations were used to manufacture compliancy, preventing the predetermined ends of the experiment from being troubled. Rather than suggesting Davis would have been less ethically troubling, or more epistemologically radical, with ‘better’ care, however, we suggest the case troubles existing care theory and argue that greater attention needs to be paid to histories, contexts, and exclusions.