Animal experimentation is a scientific experiment conducted on animals in laboratories to create human products such as cosmetics, household items, and medications. Around 35 million animals are used around the world for animal experimentation annually. The animals used are kept in confined spaces under close view and control of the scientist. This allows for them to test multiple variables on the animal without any loss of control. Animal experimentation may include exposure to radiation, surgical removal of organs, or injections of toxins for the purpose of a reaction to hazardous contents in a product. It also includes multiple tests such as the eye irritations, toxicity levels, skin sensitization, and others that may require the surgical opening of animals.
Although animal testing has provided many benefits in creating human products and medications, it is morally wrong to experiment on innocent animals for human benefit. Attention to animal use in scientific research has risen dramatically over the last century. English utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, brought attention to the ethical and scientific reasons as to why testing on animals is wrong as quoted in the following passage:
In his "Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation" in 1789, Bentham declared, "The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But can they suffer? (Bishop & Nolen 58). Bentham argued that although many people believed that animals did not deserve the same rights as humans, they did because they suffered pain the same way humans do. In addition, Bentham also argued that because animals suffer, they have the equal rights as humans to be considered important. (58). Many people may argue that because humans are able to think logically and make their own decisions, we have dominion over the animals. However, a policy adviser for PETA, Alistair Currie, explained otherwise: "Animals are not ours to use for experimentation. They feel pain and fear just as we do, and their overwhelming natural inclinations—like ours—are to be free and to protect their own lives, not to be locked in a small cage inside a laboratory, where they are subjected to abuse and suffering that would be illegal if they took place anywhere else." (“The Independent”). Using animals in research is inhumane. They are given toxins and aren’t well-taken care of. Currie emphasizes that animals are to be free, not locked up in a small cage where they aren’t doing what nature requires for them to do. There are laws in place that limit the extent of experiments on some animals. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) place these laws on animals such as dogs and cats. However, the use of those animals only make up about 5% of the animals used in total. Around 95% of the animals used in …show more content…
Some of these diseases include polio and diabetes. However, cures and treatments for these diseases have come at a cost of hundreds of animal lives. According to Michael Bliss, the author of The Discovery of Insulin, two medical students from the University of Toronto used dogs to discover the correlation between insulin and diabetes. They would remove the pancreas of many dogs and inject its hormones into diabetic dogs. They found this treatment to be successful. However, the treated dogs would be sacrificed for another experiment and the other dogs died within a week of having their pancreas removed. (Bliss
Although animal testing has provided many benefits in creating human products and medications, it is morally wrong to experiment on innocent animals for human benefit. Attention to animal use in scientific research has risen dramatically over the last century. English utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, brought attention to the ethical and scientific reasons as to why testing on animals is wrong as quoted in the following passage:
In his "Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation" in 1789, Bentham declared, "The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But can they suffer? (Bishop & Nolen 58). Bentham argued that although many people believed that animals did not deserve the same rights as humans, they did because they suffered pain the same way humans do. In addition, Bentham also argued that because animals suffer, they have the equal rights as humans to be considered important. (58). Many people may argue that because humans are able to think logically and make their own decisions, we have dominion over the animals. However, a policy adviser for PETA, Alistair Currie, explained otherwise: "Animals are not ours to use for experimentation. They feel pain and fear just as we do, and their overwhelming natural inclinations—like ours—are to be free and to protect their own lives, not to be locked in a small cage inside a laboratory, where they are subjected to abuse and suffering that would be illegal if they took place anywhere else." (“The Independent”). Using animals in research is inhumane. They are given toxins and aren’t well-taken care of. Currie emphasizes that animals are to be free, not locked up in a small cage where they aren’t doing what nature requires for them to do. There are laws in place that limit the extent of experiments on some animals. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) place these laws on animals such as dogs and cats. However, the use of those animals only make up about 5% of the animals used in total. Around 95% of the animals used in …show more content…
Some of these diseases include polio and diabetes. However, cures and treatments for these diseases have come at a cost of hundreds of animal lives. According to Michael Bliss, the author of The Discovery of Insulin, two medical students from the University of Toronto used dogs to discover the correlation between insulin and diabetes. They would remove the pancreas of many dogs and inject its hormones into diabetic dogs. They found this treatment to be successful. However, the treated dogs would be sacrificed for another experiment and the other dogs died within a week of having their pancreas removed. (Bliss