The use of animals in laboratory experiments
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The use of animals in laboratory experiments is a controversial topic. Many people are opposed to vivisection, or medical experiments using living animals. These people feel that the suffering of lab animals is a moral issue similar to black slavery or the repression of women. Controversy exists, however, because there are also many people who feel that animal experiments are necessary for the prolonging of human life. This point of view has been expressed, for example, by the former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. According to Koop, animal research has been responsible for increasing life expectancy in the United States from 52 years in the early 1900's to 72 years today (Pardes, West & Pincus, 1991, p. 1642). On this basis, many doctors and scientists are in favor of maintaining animal experimentation. This paper will argue against this view, and will take the perspective that the benefits of medical research are no longer dependent upon the suffering of innocent animals. With modern technology, there are alternatives to the use of animals which are cheaper as well as more humane, such as the use of cell cultures and computer models (Cowley, 1988, p. 54). Thus, from a moral viewpoint, it is obvious that the use of animals in scientific studies must be stopped. According to estimates by the federal government, 17 to 22 million animals are used in scientific research each year (Pardes, West & Pincus, 1991, p. 1641). The vast majority of these lab animals are r
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(p. 43). Carlsen further notes that treating animals like "objects" is an abuse of power which is similar to the way "in which people holding power deny the rights of people with less power" (p. 44). The proponents of vivisection claim that this argument is invalid because animals are inherently different from humans. However, as Singer points out, this is like arguing against rights for women because women are inherently different from men (Singer, 1989, p. 20). It is true that men are generally stronger than women. Nevertheless, most people today agree that women have the right to not have to suffer through physical or psychological abuse at the hands of men. This same logic applies to animals, as well. Although they are not rational creatures, like humans, animals still have the basic right to not be forced to suffer.
As this argument shows, the crucial element in the morality of animal rights is the fact that animals are capable of suffering. In the words of Singer, "if a being suffers there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration" (Singer, 1989, p. 22). News correspondent Roger Caras has agreed that animals have the basic right to be free from unnecessary suffering. T
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Approximate Word count = 1744
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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