Animal Testing
Naturally, humans tend to live longer Because of this idea, medicine
has progressed hugely, especially in the 21st century. People are benefiting
from surgeries and medications. However, although medicine has been developed
dramatically, more diseases are still waiting for new treatments. That is why
conducting animal testing became indispensable. How do you think about the animal
testing? Have you ever heard the proverb? Animal testing, also known as animal
experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is “the use of non-human
animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate
animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions
to more than 100 million used annually”(Wikipedia) As the experimentation on
animals increased, especially the practice of extreme, so did criticism and
controversy.
The ethical questions raised by performing experiments on animals
are subject to much debate, and viewpoints have shifted significantly over the
20th century. Robert Gardner, explains has published widely on animal rights
and environmental politics. He remain disagreements about which procedures are
useful for which purposes, as well as disagreements over which ethical
principles apply to which species. At first, “there is a powerful moral case
against animal experimentation.” If people insist upon treating such humans as
superior to animals merely on the grounds that they are human, without any
other supporting argument, people are guilty of ‘speciesism’(Gardner, 37).
Second, “If we insist upon granting rights to humans we should also grant them
to animals.”(38) If people reject the idea that humans are superior then,
provided that they are not prepared to sacrifice some members of their own
species to benefit others, they are not permitted to do this to animals
either. Third, “animals possess rights.”(38)
People ought to treat other species with respect, and this means thinking very
hard before harming them for their benefit.
On the other side of the debate, supporters of the use of animals
in
experiments, such as the Henry E. Heffner, known as the “The
Symbiotic Nature of Animal Research”, argue that those in favor of animal
testing held that experiments on animals were necessary to advance medical and
biological knowledge. First, “it is mutualism, in which both parties benefit.” It
has contributed to the reproductive success of both species and, conversely,
has reduced the probability that either might become extinct.(Heffner, 39)
Second, Animals far more successful and much more resistant to extinction than
their wild ancestors, while simultaneously strengthening mankind’s ability to
survive. Third, “Some animals ; cats and dogs, had already established
mutualistic relationships with us, and there movement into the laboratory
represents an expansion of this relationship.(42)” One obvious survival strategy for chimpanzees,
that have no close relationship with us outside the laboratory, would be expand
their use of kin selection. It become essential to medical research, thus increasing
their own ability to survive – the ability of humans.
I
would like to ask you about the definition of animal testing. Is it too
profound question? Then, let me rephrase the question. Do you think the decision
of incurability patient in the emergency? Or at least was it the best option? I
don’t think so and probably so does he.
