Sydney Yovic

Ethics and Animal Research

            Preface: The thoughts and opinions that I am attempting to disprove or debate are all intelligent arguments for animal research. As I explored this controversial subject, I ran into many of these same opinions coupled with religious belief. I must preface this paper by saying I have disregarded any and all statements made with religious tone or tradition with regards to animals and their importance or value according to all religions. The reason behind my religious neglect is fully based on the assumption that not everyone has the same religious beliefs or any at all so it is inappropriate to use religion as an argument to be taken seriously or refuted. 

      Because animals are a part of a moral community and they do not posses autonomy nor a representative protecting their best interest of life, it is unethical to use them as subjects for experimentation which causes pain and suffering as a means for producing benefit to humans. It is widely accepted that animals are able to feel pain and there are even guidelines requiring that animal pain and suffering be regulated, finite and justified. These guidelines to control animal pain in the course of research show evidence that animals’ pains are to be taken seriously, thus proving their lives hold some value. If the life of an animal has value, then the animal possesses a moral standing and should be considered a part of a moral community. When we accept animals as morally considerable, it is clear that harmful animal research of any kind is unethical. In this paper, I will argue that animals have a quality of life and consequently, it is morally wrong to victimize them as test subjects. I will also attempt to invalidate (more…)