The Ethics of Animal Research: Exploring the Controversy

Basic Bioethics

by Jeremy R. Garrett (Contributor), Bernard E. Rollin (Contributor), Stephen P. Schiffer (Contributor)

A balanced, accessible discussion of whether and on what grounds animal research can be ethically justified. An estimated 100 million nonhuman vertebrates worldwide--including primates, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds, rats, and mice--are bred, captured, or otherwise acquired every year for research purposes. Much of this research is seriously detrimental to the welfare of these animals, causing pain, distress, injury, or death. This book explores the ethical controversies that have arisen over animal research, examining closely the complex scientific, philosophical, moral, and legal issues involved. Defenders of animal research face a twofold they must make a compelling case for the unique benefits offered by animal research; and they must provide a rationale for why these benefits justify treating animal subjects in ways that would be unacceptable for human subjects. This challenge is at the heart of the book. Some contributors argue that it can be met fairly easily; others argue that it can never be met; still others argue that it can sometimes be met, although not necessarily easily. Their essays consider how moral theory can be brought to bear on the practical ethical questions raised by animal research, examine the new challenges raised by the emerging possibilities of biotechnology, and consider how to achieve a more productive dialogue on this polarizing subject. The book's careful blending of theoretical and practical considerations and its balanced arguments make it valuable for instructors as well as for scholars and practitioners.

Genres: Philosophy

341 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2012

Reviews

[James Van]

After being interested in animals and possibly wanting to one day become a veterinarian or go to vet school, reading this book helped me understand two different sides to my topic over animal testing and experimenting. Throughout this book it discussed the advantages that I knew and had thought i knew about advantages and improvements to using animals as research for medicines and experiments. As this book also informed me, there are close to one hundred million testings or experiments going on worldwide with nonhuman vertebrates so animals, and it made me change my mind on the current view i had. Coming into this project i thought animal testing was good in hope for technological and medical advances for our future. But this book changed my mind a little bit as i stated they informed me of the one hundred million animals being tested world wide, and i made me think if that happens every year and continues to grow animals aren't going to be animals anymore but more of test dummies. Going back to the positives on animal researching and testing though, they had a side where animal testing within reason can advance the future of medicine for humans to take within a couple years. This book overall changed my initial thoughts on animal testings and how i thought they were good and why not test animals if it can advance us humans over time. My thoughts after this book have now changed to the sides they stated as within reason of animal testings they can advance our future but the regulations on testing any animal with any quantity of animals should be more regulated to ensure the safety of the species of animals being conducted in the experiments. This book was very informative and taught me a lot about my topic over animal testing that i had never even thought of.

[Alicia Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been thinking about my own experiences in animal research and thought this book would be a good exposure to others thoughts on the subject. I was a little disappointed in that the book overall seems to aruge against animal experimentation without providing the viewpoint for animal experimentation. I think the final chapter was the most insightful. However, the first half of ch. 15 was very interesting in terms of the FDA process and how this relates to the question of animal research.

[Urszula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spodziewałam się troszkę więcej informacji o metodach alternatywnych. Niemniej jest to pierwsze na rynku tak wnikliwe studium etyczne tematyki badań prowadzonych na zwierzętach. Bardzo polecam każdemu, kto lubi gimnastykę umysłową i chce sobie wypracować zdanie w tym temacie. Ta książka w zupełności do tego wystarczy! Świetni autorzy i wydawnictwo MIT :) Warto.