Are animals’ mere means for human ends or are they individual beings deserving of the same dignity, respect and rights humans have? The issue surrounding the use of animals in biomedical research is ever controversial and relevant; so much so that viewpoints on the debate sit on opposite ends of the spectrum. Both Peter Singer and Ronald Regan believe animals should be treated humanely, arguing for the same conclusion - that animals should be treated the same as humans. However, such a conclusion to extend the same rights to animals is achieved through different means. On the contrary, proponents such as Barauch Brody believe an interest-based approach is the correct and morally-just way to address animal testing.
Both viewpoints hold a place in society today, however, this essay will argue it is morally wrong to use animals in biomedical research. This is on the grounds that animals deserve the same equality and consideration in their rights as humans due to their possession of inherent value.
Central to this debate is the idea of inherent value. That is to say,
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However, instead of sex or race being the discriminatory factor, a member’s species is substituted. According to Singer, such a discrimination is wrong as it goes against the principle of equal consideration. As such, speciesism cannot be used to validate animal suffering receiving little consideration in terms of interests; there is no morally relevant difference between the two species that entitles them receiving greater interests. The only reason such a distinction occurs is that humans belong to their own species, which in their eyes is superior. However, it is not justifiable to give preference to beings simply because they are not members of homosapiens. There is no characteristic of being human that justifies them being given greater moral significance on what happens to
The essence of the issues is if animals are being subjected to medical research against their will; is liable to say that we don’t place a high value on living things that are outside our human race? Subjecting animals to experiments that we would not consider ethically feasible to apply to humans. There are limitations that are placed legally to protect humanity. When considering animals for experimentation, there are no legal guidelines that restrict scientists from harming them. Ascribing animals to a lower moral status because of their lack of intelligence, communication skills, and human relations; taking advantage of them are quite easy. “According to the “Moral Theory of Animals, “there are two types of approaches that support this idea. One approach starts from the position that the interests of animals, particularly in avoiding suffering, should be taken into account when judging whether it is acceptable to use them for medical purposes that benefit human beings. The second approach argues that animals, like human beings, have rights that must be respected when considering their use for such purposes.” (Stanford
People often use animals for a lot of experiments even though most people think that is it wrong. People make up countless excuses to why it’s okay to do this. But it is not okay. Animal researchers and such agree with my opinion that using animals for tests that we as humans would never want to do, is bad and very hypocritical, yet unfortunately there are just as many scientists who say that it is completely fine and that there isn’t really much harm brought to the animals. Mind you, these scientists have apparently never owned a beloved pet close to their heart. The two essays, "Animal Rights, Human Wrongs" by Tom Regan and "Proud to be Speciesist" by Stephen Rose, talk about the issue of animal rights, but are written on completely opposing
In the words of Tom Regan, a prominent advocate for animal rights, "the fundamental wrong is the system that allows us to view animals as our resources, here for us"(111) According to this view, animals should not be used in research, as food, or as clothing. In sum, then, the issue is whether animals can
When discussing the issues faced from an ethical standpoint of animal rights it is important to consider the benefits animals bring to people and then question what rights animals are entitled to due to this (Fisher). Taking that into account, one must ask if giving them rights could possibly overstep on human rights and would animals even be able to enjoy rights (Fisher). It is often debated that the benefits and knowledge through experimentation of animals have led to life-saving advancements in the field of science and medicine (Fisher). The other side of the debate argues that even if these past benefits are justified, these type of experiments are no longer necessary and it is deemed unacceptable that wrongful treatment of animals is done for this purpose (Fisher). When it comes to the question of
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” (Mahatma Gandhi). Scientists have been using animals for biomedical research for centuries. They provide a source to get information scientists can not get without harming humans. A lot of debate is spread about whether it is good or bad. Animal experimentation is a controversial topic because it is helpful to humans, but it is also cruel and inhumane.
In Stanley Benn’s “Egalitarianism and Equal Consideration of Interests”, it is explained that animals and human imbeciles are distinguished not because of fundamental inequality, but solely on the basis that the two subjects are of different species. In regard to animals’ moral rights and the infringement of those rights due to the practice of speciesism, Singer employs a utilitarian style of argument to defend animals’ moral rights; in short, the interests of each being which is involved should be taken into consideration and said interests should be given the same weight as that of another being. Speciesism is morally wrong because it attempts to assign undeserved weight to the interests of beings of separate species, solely based off the difference of species. Naturally, or rather unnaturally, human beings have always awarded themselves the utmost importance due to the idea of human dignity, as in humans occupy the central spot within any earthly ranking. Logically, Singer argues that the practice of speciesism is wrong because the conditions in which it exists are synonymous to the conditions which facilitate racism and sexism, before they had been recognized as
Animals are found throughout lives of humans. As companions, entertainment, test subjects and food, animals serve vital roles throughout our lives.The Animal Bill of Rights, through the Animal Legal Defense Fund, attempts to defend the basic legal rights of all animals. However, to weigh the need for such an act, one must compare the suffering of animals to the benefits such suffering gives to humankind. It’s much more important to highlight the crucial medical advances that lab animals have provided over the injustices they may suffer, but this suffering can not and should not be ignored. It is with measure that we do not enact a bill of rights for animals, however we bring new awareness of animal research and the ethical treatment of all
Debates about animal research are often polarized. On one hand, increased knowledge, medical treatments or enhanced animal production are seen to justify any harm. On the other, animals have rights (Fisher, 2014). Ethics, alongside a more informed understanding of the benefits of research and of the aims of animal rights, may in fact produce a more sophisticated common ground between both sides of the debate.
To begin with, animals ' rights are abused when they are utilized as a part of research. Animals and individuals are similar in numerous ways; they both feel, think, act on, and encounter torment. Therefore, animals should be treated with the same dignity as people. However animals ' rights are disregarded when they are utilized as a part of research since they are not given a decision. Animals are subjected to tests that are again and again agonizing or cause lasting harm or even death, and they are never given the alternative of not taking part in the experiment. Animals don 't freely give themselves up for the progression of
In discussion of animal rights, one controversial issue has been whether or not animals should be use for medical testing. On the one hand, some scientists argue that animal testing has contributed for many cures and treatments. On the other hand, animal rights activist contends that alternative methods now exist that can replace the need for animals. Others even maintain that animal testing is an essential part in medical research. My own view is that animals should not be used in medical testing because is no longer necessary now there are methods that are safer and have better results than animals do.
Carl Cohen, in his piece “The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research”, presents an argument for why animals possess no rights, and therefore, have no right from being experimented on in the name of medical research. Cohen presents a theory that the pain that will be felt by the animals will be far outweighed by the benefit that humans will receive from it. Some of the sub-arguments that Cohen presents in support for his main point hold up, and sway the reader toward his argument. However, there are some sub-arguments that seem muddled or even purely misleading in a weak attempt to have them coincide with his overarching ideals.
Today, Millions of animals across the globe are being used in labs as a way to experiment and test things such as cosmetics and drugs while also being used for biology lessons, medical training and sometimes just curiosity-driven experimentations. Many would say these test are infringing on the “animal 's right”.we will look at immanuel kant with his theory of the categorical imperative and other philosophers such as aristotle and will demonstrate how they have had a large impact on how we see these animals rights today and how they play a role in whether or not animal testing is morally the right thing to do.experimentations on animals has been done throughout almost all of in history and in some way or another contributed to most nearly every medical breakthrough. however , where do we draw the line between testing to further progress knowledge and scientific studies and infringing on the animals rights? In addition how far are we willing to go with “animal rights”? In order to truly get get a better understanding to answer these questions, i 'm going to dive deeper into both the pros and cons of the use of animals in scientific experiments and see if there are any proven alternatives that could be used to better science and the rights of all animals.
Some of the earliest records on animal testing date back to ancient Greek philosophers and physicians such as Aristotle (1). Since then, the use of animals in experimentation has grown tremendously and has evolved into an indispensable arm of biology. Whether it be to test the effects of various chemicals on living organisms or developing a model of a disease for future study, biology makes ample use of model organisms for a variety of purposes and without their implementation many of the medical advancements we enjoy today would not exist. Despite their deep and widespread historical use, the ethical considerations of using these animals is still a highly debated topic around the world. This essay will argue that animal use is vital to the advancement of biology and that ample ethical standards are in place to ensure they receive the
The issue of animal experimentation is a widely debated topic in the United States. A fundamental question of this debate is whether the functions of animal testing and research are morally and ethically justified. In the viewpoint of the pro-research community, animal testing is a necessary practice. They support this position by stating that humans, instinctually, prioritize their own survival above other animals thus making any use of animals justifiable (Fox 5). The supporters of animal testing believe that it is illogical for humans to place anthropocentric values in animals citing that they can not be moral equals to mankind (Fox 3, 6). The animal rights faction holds belief in different viewpoints against the testing of animals in
Upwards of forty percent of government funding by the center of disease control goes to experimentation on animals (Animal Rights- I think Hope). That’s billions of dollars poured into animal research, most of which is eventually scrapped for being too dangerous or too unreliable. Unlike with humans, there are currently little to no laws in place to protect the lives of animals. Many argue whether or not animals should even have rights. After all, they can’t reason the same way humans can. They act mostly on instinct. However, most animals are capable of feeling both pain and fear. Science could be furthered more effectively without exploiting animals.