" Beasts, being devoid of understanding, cannot intend harm "

What are the legal consequences of damage caused by a beast to a thing, a man or another beast belonging to someone ? Who is liable for this damage under Roman law ? Above all, what conception of animals is reflected in this legal regime ? The lecture will answer these questions through the reflections of the jurist Ulpian. We will draw the conclusion that Roman jurists granted (domestic) animals the possibility of deviating from the natural behavior typical of their species, while denying them the ability to understand. Ethology, so to speak, is nevertheless used to resolve a conflict of interests between owners.