Cosmetic Animal Testing Ethics

Superior Essays
Research Questions: The objective of this paper is to investigate animal welfare and cosmetology from a moral philosophical framework. Is animal testing universally unethical or contingent on circumstance? In particular, is animal testing considered unethical in the cosmetics industry? If so, how do corporate entities, governments, and citizens justify the production and purchase of cosmetic products tested on animals? Are corporations inherently wicked, are the psychopathic, innately selfish, competitive beings? Cosmetic animal testing appears to satisfy a lower form of utilitarianism. Economic reductionists argue that consumption fulfills desires; however, these desires are not necessarily “good.” Makeup promises confidence and happiness …show more content…
This arises from the cosmetic industry’s superficial need to maximize profit, the lack of government regulation and oversight in countries, such as Canada, and civilians who purchase animal tested products consciously or ignorantly, countered by animal liberationists who protest against it.
Conclusion: The anticipated conclusion for this paper will place moral accountability to the corporation, government, and its civilians on animal exploitation. However, the sentience of human beings also exploits the vulnerabilities of the marketplace. Aristotle’s theory on natural slavery has received dissent by fellow philosophers over the years. Though utilitarianism acknowledges non-humans have the capacity to suffer, the theory is reductionist. How does one quantify pain and pleasure of animals accurately?
Furthermore, its research is not in the advancement of human welfare, but fulfilling an empty vessel of human desire. From a deontological perspective, animal testing measures are completely unethical and unnecessary. Capitalism is not natural, but a constructed that is subject to
…show more content…
John Frank addresses the institutional barriers between the public and industries that exploit animals, which causes the public to base consumption and political decisions on a very limited scope of information. The “Right to Know” movement encourages citizens to know information about their government. Proponents of an extreme free market, Adam Smith and Stanley Jevons, would argue that regulation is unnecessary because ethical issues can be resolved within the marketplace by consumers making choices based on their ethical preferences. However, consumer sovereignty is merely an illusion if information is restricted to the public

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    As discussed previously, animal testing for medical use is ethical because it furthers human knowledge and safety, whereas using animals for cosmetics is unethical because it doesn’t further our knowledge just tests what we already know. Numerous cosmetic companies test on animals because they want to add untested ingredients that aren’t necessary to add into their products ("About Cosmetics Animal Testing"). These ingredients aren 't necessary to use because there are already pre-tested and safe ingredients that can be used instead, so there doesn’t have to be testing on animals. Cruelty-free companies use the already many safe ingredients available in their products, so they do not test on animals ("About Cosmetics Animal Testing”). If these companies do feel the need to test their products they turn to other alternatives of testing before using animals (Keville). Also, plenty of these companies that test on animals claim to do it because there are requirement laws for it in other countries that they sell to (“About Cosmetic Testing”); if this is the case then these companies shouldn 't sell to those countries till new laws are passed. So on, there is no necessity to use animals for cosmetics testing, making it unethical and cruel to the animals. There should be more laws on testing on animals in the basis of cosmetics, but separate from…

    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Companies use animals as well, for the products they have come up with, scientists test on animals' eyelids and the animals get blind or poisoned by cosmetics. There are several companies who sell cruelty free make up and that type of makeup is not tested on animals it is tested on vitro tests or clinical studies on humans. Cruel beauty points out, " Every year cosmetics companies in the United States kills millions of animals while testing their products...among... Inhumane practices is the injection of caustic substances into the eyes...of living rabbits to test irritation. They break necks and backs..." (Cruel Beauty). While animals are getting tested from the scientists the animals are getting tortured and their skin gets irritated by the products that makes animals die from the despair they get put through. Companies should change the way they are going to test out their products to not put animals into an everyday life situation of getting tortured. Even though, there is proof that the United States or any other country does not require scientists or any other type of company to test on animals. Every animal has rights just as a human being's do which that applies to everyone is why Europe has stopped testing on animals since 2009 from being tested by cosmetics, if a person kills an animal for example buffalo, deer, goat, etc... without some type of permission that person can go to prison or get a fine for…

    • 1523 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For many years the testing of cosmetics on animals has been considered a major issue in the US and globally. Cosmetic testing is the most controversial area of animal testing. Each and every cosmetic product used by women is first tested on animals. Approximately, 20 million animals are used for all kinds of testing every year. Not only several leading cosmetics companies have already stopped testing products on animals, but also the European Union, Israel, and Norway have banned cosmetic testing on animals, making it illegal to do so within their borders. In 2014 India became the first cruelty-free cosmetics zone in South Asia. Cosmetic animal testing is a very emotional and a controversial topic around the world which can be better understood by its definition, history, supporting and opposing arguments.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Any cosmetic or medical companies will tell consumers that their products are the best since it has been tested on animals for safety, but the truth behind animal testing will make buyers think twice about their merchandise. Nowadays, more and more people are teaming up against animal testing. Laboratory testing is done on substances that make up medication and cosmetics, such as perfume, lotion, soap, etc. Animals are used to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medications, and check the safety of products destined for human use. Substances are injected into animal’s bodies to prove that products are harmless to people, and the environment. Although animal testing may be helpful to human’s health and the environment, the…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Approximately 47 percent of NIH-funded research involves experimentation on nonhuman animals, and in 2012, NIH budgeted nearly $30 billion for research and development. Not only are there no regulations for animal experimentation, but our own government supports it by giving them funds which allow them to conduct experimentation. Our government is the problem. The lack of enforcement of regulations, knowingly that animals are mistreated, having the power to stop it all, and yet they do nothing. The big, beauty brands is the problem. They’re the one that start it all in the first place. They’re motivated by money and couldn’t give any compassion to the animals they test on. The consumers who don’t buy cruelty free is the problem. Consumers who buy their products are unknowingly supporting animal testing by financing those…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On average, about 26 million animals are taken and used as little test subjects for big corporations to test their possibly harmful, and occasionally lethal, products before they release them to the public's use. This testing on animals began in 500 B.C and many corporations that participate in it see no harm, and have absolutely no intentions of stopping it anytime soon. There are many people that think testing these possibly dangerous products on innocent animals is not a big deal, but this paper will inform the public with some statistics and also give you the writer's perspective on why animal testing is wrong.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After decades of animal testing, most cosmetic companies have ruled out the ingredients that don 't benefit their products. With this knowledge, they are able to produce cosmetics with ingredients that are known to be safe for use. Animal testing should not be justified by our enjoyment of cosmetics. The torture and premature death that animals have to endure is inhuman because they have no choice, but cosmetic companies do have the option to take another route to test cosmetics. Other options include paying human volunteers to test the makeup, using the new computer programs that mimics human biology, and using human tissues and cells also known as Vitro Testing. There are a variety of methods to avoid the cruelty…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Testing cosmetics on animals is a very controversial issue that has grown over the past years. I believe that cosmetic animal testing is wrong and should be banned because it is cruel, inaccurate, not very reliable, and has been proven to be unnecessary. Approximately 200,000 animals will suffer and die every year for cosmetics around the world. We as a whole have all decided that this is not necessary which is why we stopped making testing on animal cosmetics something that had to be done. Companies still continue to do it. Not only do you have the power to speak up for what you believe in, you can also start to vote with your dollar. Stop and look at your cosmetics to understand where you are voting.…

    • 390 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Animal Testing Debate

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In our daily lives, we use different products for a variety of things. In drugstores and in our local malls, there are categories of diverse items that are available to us. These items can range from makeup, skincare, hair products, prescription medicine and much more. They contribute in making our lives easier and more productive. These products are often designed to enhance our appearance and health. When we watch television, or browse the internet, we constantly see new products being advertised to the public. All products provide a label containing the ingredients and facts pertaining to that item, and where it came from. Many products in the market today are tested on animals first. Animal testing has helped us achieved many accomplishments in our society. It plays a huge role by ensuring the products are safe for human use. With the rise of cruelty-free items, there are different options as opposed to animals testing. Animal testing should be eliminated because it is unethical and unreliable due to biological differences between humans and animals.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Universally, animal testing has a famous reputation known for things like medicinal production and (mainly) cosmetic purposes; however, while these experiments may make humans look more beautiful and attractive, the animals’ treatment in these experiments looks horribly ugly in comparison. People have disputed the controversy of animal testing for many years, mainly questioning the morals of animal experimentation or trying to justify it. For the most part, advancing into animal testing has shown itself as a great mistake for humanity and continues to cause unnecessary animal suffering.…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The lab testing on animals is better than if people tested on other people. If we didn’t have the ability to test cosmetics on animals before selling it to people using the product, people would get hurt because nobody would know if these products are unsafe. Testing these products on animals is better than if we tested these products on humans. When an animal gets injured or even killed, it would be less dismal than if a human was killed or badly injured. A human’s life is generally considered more valuable than an animal’s life. In an article written by GreenGarageBlog.org, They give 12 Pros and Cons for cosmetic testing on animals. The first pro in this article was that animal testing aids research. The article says “Without the ability to test cosmetics on animals before being released to consumers, it would be difficult for researchers to make an educated guess about these products’ safety. But with animals testing, developers of these products are able to conduct trial and error to learn more about providing consumers with the best possible…

    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Cosmetic Animal Testing

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Should cosmetic products be tested on animals? The debate of the topic, "Should cosmetic products be tested on animals" is endless. While many argue that many benefits come from cosmetic tests on animals, many others argue that the tests are cruel and should be stopped. Both sides have strong valid arguments that are backed up with points to prove which is correct. However, cosmetic research should not be done on animals because it is inhumane and outdated in today's society.…

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to, Knight Rovida the proposed safe cosmetics and personal care products act of 2013 calls for a new evaluation program for cosmetic ingredients in the US, with the new assessments initially dependent on expanded animal testing. This shows how much of an advantage animal testing has been. In order for products to be sold the expansion of experimenting increases and money can be made.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The act of utilizing animals for testing has been a disputable issue in the course of recent years. Animal testing is an ethically talked about practice. Around two to four million animals have been utilized as a part of security tests. Safety tests are directed with an extensive variety of chemicals and items, cosmetics, drugs, vaccines, packing materials and household cleaners. This raises issues, for example, the morals and altruism of purposely harming animals, subsequently hurting them, for advertising another corrective or household unit item (Orlans, Barbara, 1993).…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the last several decades the topic of animal testing for cosmetic purposes has taken the world by surprise. The throngs of questions concerning this matter have skyrocketed, yet how often are these concerns addressed? For that matter, how many citizens even understand what cosmetic animal testing entails? As defined by Humane Society International, “the term ‘animal testing’ refers to procedures performed on living animals for purposes of research into basic biology” (About Animal Testing). These procedures typically result in pain, physiological distress, and in extreme cases, death. Animal testing for the sole purpose of cosmetics is an unnecessary worldwide problem which fundamentally tortures animals in order to achieve a goal which could be obtained through more humane circumstances.…

    • 1600 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays