Animal Ethics Flashcards
Why are alternatives for animal research not used?
Animal research is required and a habit. Habits are also integrated into how your lab is set up, in the equipment, in the training of the staff.
What is the history of moral concern for animals?
-1864: founding of the Dutch society for animal protection.
-1886 the mistreatment of animals is an indecent assault. Animal abuse is legally a felony ‘To be confronted with an animal being tormented is insupportable for an animal lover’. Moral concern is a matter of being civilized and sophisticated..
-1961: First Law on animal protection
Moral norms:
• do not cause any pain or damage
• refrain from causing damage to animal health
• provide animals with the necessary care
-1959: WMS Russell & RL Burch: The principles of humane experimental techniques
-1960s: A growing concern for animal welfare in both academic and public spheres
-1975 Peter Singer publishes ‘Animal liberation’ protesting against the intensified use of animals in science and agriculture, the liberation movement aims to to emancipate animals.
-1979 First Dutch law on Animal Experimentation (WOD)
-1981 Amendement Central Government and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals explicit recognition of the importance of protecting the integrity of animals
-1987 Revision of WOD
-1992 the Animal Health and Welfare Act is passed
(incl. WOD)
What are Russell and Burch’s principles of humane experimental techniques?
Russell and Burch’s principles of humane experimental techniques are the three R’s:
- Strive for Reduction (of the numbers of animals)
- Strive for Replacement (by non-animal experiments)
- Strive for Refinement (of techniques, = welfare)
What did Peter Singer’s ‘Animal liberation’ become?
Peter Singer’s ‘Animal liberation’ became the hallmark of the animal rights movement
What was Peter Singer’s ‘Animal liberation’?
Peter Singer's ‘Animal liberation’ was an objection to speciesism. He warned that we can never escape our human point of view. Therefore, we are bad at seeing the difference between humans and nonhuman animals. Eight things that are often named as what separates humans from animals are: -Intelligence: condition, writing -Empathy -Reflection on behaviour -Capacity for moral thinking -Language -Creativity -Sentience -Autonomy However, not all humans have this and some animals do.
What is the moral status of animals in Singer’s theory?
- Sentience
- Integrity
- Subject of life
What is sentience?
Sentience is the capacity for conscious experience of your environment. –> Pain, pleasure and the ability to relate that to the state of the environment and change your course of action.
What was the sentience view of Peter Singer’s theory?
The principle of equality:
-Treat equal things equal, and unequal things unequally
Sentience:
- Animals and humans are equal in their sentience
- All sentient beings should not be exposed to unnecessary suffering
Practical implementation:
- Social animals are housed in groups
- Housing facilities take circadian rhythm into account
It belonged to the ethical theory of utilitarianism
• Maximize the total amount of good and minimize the total amount of bad of all those involved
• Good = health, welfare, happiness
How can we justify the use of animals in experiments?
In order to justify the use of animals in experiments, we need to clarify the criteria for moral status we use.
Why is integrity from the Amendement Central Government and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals difficult to regulate?
Integrity from the Amendement Central Government and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is difficult to regulate because the definition is ambiguous. NIBI guidelines were made, but in practice it is more complicated.
What does NIBI say about integrity?
The NIBI code for professional biologists:
Art. 3 The biologist should show respect for the
integrity of human beings and nature.
What is the definition of animal integrity?
Integrity of animals:
The wholeness and beauty of an animal: physical and physiological wholeness, the capacity for species-specific behaviour and independent realisation of this capacity
What is the problem with biotechnology on animals?
In biotechnology, an animal might not be harmed (like GFP mice) but something has changed that might damage the value of the animal. What makes the change uncomfortable is the instrumentalisation of life.
How is animal integrity regulated now and what is the difference with the past?
Now it is:
- Acts that harm the integrity of animals are forbidden by law, unless there is a substantial human benefit and no alternatives are available.
- burden of proof: researchers
in contrast to the past:
- yes, in principle it is allowed, provided that there aren’t very important arguments for not doing it
- burden of proof: legislator
What was Tom Regan’s animal rights philosophy?
He had a view that followed deontology: Respect for animal dignity
• Animals belong to the community of morally significant beings because they are subject of live
• Compare to Kant:
never treat animals solely as a means, always as ends in themselves
