Exploring the Semantic Bog of Definitions of Domestication

The concept of domestication is important for the biological and social sciences but is framed within Western scientific paradigms that exclude other epistemologies. All human societies engage in multispecies relationships shaped by their own ontologies with intentional and unintentional human actions that often result in what Western scientists call domestication. This essay reviews some historical and contemporary definitions of domestication, incorporating ethnographic insights from some Amazonian Indigenous Peoples, to reveal how universal definitions obscure human agency and cultural diversity. The essay critiques recent expansions of domestication's scope to all multispecies interactions involving humans and highlights pathways and practices across agroecological contexts. Recognizing other ontologies and epistemologies, and contextualizing domestication within specific human-plant-animal relationships can challenge colonial narratives and foster clearer definitions. This approach enriches our understanding of domestication by embracing its complexity and cultural variability, while promoting more inclusive scientific discourse.