Animal Ethics Case Study: Animal Experimentation

A major ethical concern that has been under speculation for many of years is focused around animal ethics, and whether or not certain animal practices are just or inhuman. There are many questions that focus around fundamental issues concerning the moral status of animals. It is critical to understand the difference between a concern for animal welfare and a concern for animal rights. A current issue that is important to understand and analyze is animal experimentation, and although many consider it to be an unethical practice, there are many pros and cons to the controversial topic. Although animal experimentation has been very beneficial medically, the argument can be made that using animals to experiment is not always necessary. Animal Ethics, Case Study #1, “Animal Experimentation,” discusses the importance of animal ethics and the different viewpoints on animal experimentation. According to the case (Ch. 17, pg. 469), Joseph believes that there are all kinds of healthy alternatives to eating meat, and there are also alternatives to using animals in research. I agree with Joseph, and believe that there are other methods of research, such as

The animal rights movement opposes organizations that use animals for research, food, clothing, and human entertainment. Since animals are often seen feeling pain and distress, they argue that animals deserve greater moral consideration and legal protection than human beings generally give them. The animal rights movement was designed to aid the animal protection, or animal welfare, movement, and strongly opposes the idea of animal experiments that lead to suffering or death . “Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and the Human Society continue to question the need for animal research and argue that alternatives are being neglected” (Ch. 17, pg.