Animal Research Flashcards
For
Utilitarian argument
Singer 1975
Research only carried out if it’s for greater good.
Happiness for greatest number will be a result
For
Moral obligation
Gray 1991 “we owe a special duty to members of our own species”
We have a moral obligation to advance human understanding for human good
Believes animal suffering is justifiable if it’d for scientific and medical purporses and allows to avoid human suffering
For
Continuity argument
Darwin’s 1859 theory
We evolved from animals
Difference between human and animals are quantitative not qualitative
Comparisons are valid
Research on animals yield genuine human insights
For
Scientific and practical arguments
Can be used when humans can’t
Shorter breeding cycles - genetics can be studied
Lab experiments have high controls so cause and effect can be inferred and less likely biased to pps reactivity
For
Research contributions and practical applications
Animal research has great insights into vital areas of medicine
Most what we know is based on animal research
For
Safeguards provide protection
Can be argued safeguards in place do provide adequate limitations as animal act, the ethical guidelines and home office restrictions are effective among strictest in the world
Ensures animals humanely treated
For
Cost benefit analysis
Legal requirement of animals act
Weighs up of ends justify the means at outset of research process
Ensures research is justified
Against
Utilitarian argument and speciesism
Singer 1975
Opposed to any that could be done in humans
Equality of all species
Against view animals should be used as it lowers fost
Against
Animal rights arguments
All animals have right to be treated with respect and not harmed
Regan
Not justifiable under any condition
No matter how comfortable or humane it is made it shouldn’t be done
Against
Moral obligation
Grays 1991
It is speciesism and human interest shouldn’t be elevated above other species
Against
Continuity / discontinuity argument
Animals are so closely related they are capable of emotions and so created an ethical dilemma
Discontinuity
Animals difference is qualitative (humanist psychologists) so research in animals provides limited insights
Against
Scientific arguments
Research in animals is often repetitive and transparent
Research in lab lacks mundane realism and limits generalisability
Generalisations between animals and humans are guilt of anthropomorphism ( animals are mistakenly attributed with human qualities)
Against
Criticisms of research contributions
Medical advances have been delayed and confused because of results from non human experiments and do not transfer to human patients
Effects off medical treatment on one species doesn’t predict affect in another species due to evolutionary pressyres
Against
Criticism of safeguards
Key weakness is enforceability , it may be unethical research is carried out not just detected
Against
Cost benefit analysis
May be biased by the value judgements that favour the contribution of the research to society over animals
Researchers tend to over emphasises benefit and under emphasises costs
So they are difficult to predict and lack accuracy
