Diana: Good afternoon Melanie. Thank you for coming to my house. I wanted to meet with you because I know you are a very well-known scientist and you work on animal testing. I am not very sure this is something moral to work on and I have always wanted to listen the point of view of a specialized scientist. I personally believe animal testing should not be allowed.
Melanie: Hello Diana! I’m glad to be here. I’m sorry I’m came in a little late. Talking about animal testing is definitely my specialty so I was very excited when I heard your invitation. Now, the first thing you need to know is animal testing has to do with improving science and the advancement of technology. That is the main reason why I work on it. I don’t believe it is something
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unmoral. I believe it not only progresses science, but also improves human health. Diana: On the contrary, I do believe it is wrong. Animal testing is just aggregating animal’s deaths. Could you please help me understand how animal testing works and what you get as a positive benefit from performing it? Because otherwise, I will continue to believe it is completely unmoral. Melanie: Animal testing is research done on animals for the commitment of finding the efficiency of new medicines as well as testing their safety when used in humans. Animal testing can be used to test products such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Some types of animal testing can be: food and water scarcity, genetic manipulation, surgeries, exposures to chemicals and drugs, amongst others. (Humane Society International, 2014) Diana: I really doubt that these tests can provide more benefits than harm. Do you really believe animal testing can do more good than harm on both animals and humans? Melanie: Animal testing allows for the advancement of medicine as well as the development of new medicines that will help humans recover from many sicknesses. It is worth sacrificing some animal lives and being able to save the double in human lives. And not just that, it is also important that I mention to you that not all animals die from these experiments. Death is always a risk, but so is in humans who are sick from diseases which cures have not yet been discovered. This is the main problem we are trying to resolve here. Testing animals previously has proven that these tests are worth the sacrifice. Drugs for preventing or curing diseases such as HIV and diabetes have been discovered thanks to the animal testing done in the past. (Debate, n.d.) Diana: Isn’t it gloomy to see animals dying every day due to your testing? Melanie: It is not something pleasant to watch, but it is definitely worth it. Not only will new medicines be created, but additionally, many chemicals and substances that humans will constantly be in touch with, can be tested to see if they are safe enough for human contact. Diana: And do you believe animals and humans are similar enough to rely on these results? Melanie: Of course! If data weren’t useful enough, we wouldn’t even waste money doing these long processes. Similarities among humans and animals are more than what you can imagine. Since humans and animals share similar biological processes, the outcomes obtained from the experiments are very reliable. (National Anti-Vivisection Society, 2013) Diana: I actually believe you might be wrong. I have done some research on the topic, and I discovered that applying animal-tested medicines on humans can turn out to be very dangerous. This is because not all humans and animals share the same physiological reactions. The symptoms that an animal might show after being tested with one specific medicine can be very different from the symptoms reflected on a human being after being treated with the same medicine. (National Anti-Vivisection Society, 2013). Melanie: So you actually believe that we are wasting our time by testing animals? Diana: I never said that. What I do think is that rather than progressing science, you are just delaying medicine research and development as well as wasting means that can be used for a more effective investigation. Why continue with such poor processes? Why not find another alternative that might be accepted by a greater part of the population which doesn’t generate so much of a dilemma? Melanie: There is no alternative. This is the best way that has served scientists and researchers for a long time already so we trust it; we rely on it. Diana: Let me be clear on this. With everything that we have been discussing, what I have understood from your perspective as a scientist is that you would put a human life before an animal life. Am I right? Melanie: Humans should never ever be volunteered for testing. If one is being completely ethical, one must not perform any type of testing on a human being. Animals have lives and I completely understand that, but think about it this way: animals can also end up benefiting from these experiments. The medicines that give us a positive result, will not only work on humans but obviously they will work on animals as well. Oh, and before I forget, we scientists believe that animals have no rights. They are not as humans who can make ethical or moral decisions. Diana: Ok then, my final question to you is: do you feel self-fulfillment after seeing animals die through your testing? Melanie: Sure. Every time we achieve our goal and discover something new and significant for science development, I feel I achieved my main desire. Animal testing takes hard work and long hours of non-sleep, so people should not underestimate our job. On the other hand, throughout this conversation I have been very intrigued to know why you are so against animal testing being allowed. I understand you believe we are just delaying science development and we are killing animals (which by the way sound horrifying but you really need to look at the big picture), but besides this, I want to try and understand your perspective more in depth. Diana: First of all, I wanted to let you know I really appreciate you coming to my house on this rainy afternoon and putting aside your work. Although you didn’t convince me and I still believe my arguments are strong enough, I want you to know I would never underestimate anybody’s profession. Listening to what a well-known scientist has to say about such a controversial topic is very interesting. As for my opinion, the most strong point I would defend and try to argue with you is the fact that the number of animals that are injured and that have an afterwards death is a very high number. The numerous amount of animals that suffer deaths due to animal testing are not worth the risk, since I am aware that many, if not most of the results, are never approved for human practice. (Debate, n.d.) Melanie: What else would you say is a good argument to stop allowing animal testing? Diana: Animal testing is really expensive.
(Debate, n.d.) You waste a lot of money on the experiments, paying the scientists, on research and development, and even on basic needs the animal needs such as food and shelter. Imagine there can be two types of processes: a short term experiment and a long term one. The longer the process of the testing is, the more money is required to keep it running. Using these large amounts of money is really no good at all.
Melanie: Okay. I understand the economic part and I might respect that, but do you actually think it is that inhumane?
Diana: Forcing animals to harmful situations and restricting them from basic needs is completely inhumane. An animal should be able to drink, eat, and breathe just as any other creature in the Earth, including humans. If you are trying to make an animal undergo inhumane conditions, you might as well be doing it only for health purposes. But when it comes to cosmetics, it really blows my mind away how you can even consider testing animals for make-up related substances.
Melanie: Hmm. Why do you say that? I can see the makeup you are wearing right now was probably tested in an animal some time
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ago. Diana: That is a good point. But the truth is the main reason why I am so against animal testing is because I am very religious. As a Christian, I believe animal treatment is a very big sin. Animals should be treated just as humans are since we were all created by the same force: God. It would be morally wrong to mistreat an animal. One of God’s prophets, Isaiah, once mentioned that humans and animals were to have a peaceful relationship. We should then follow this belief; or at least I do. (King James Bible, n.d.) Melanie: But what if I told you that God created animals in order for humans to use them and treat them however we wanted to. If we were to treat animals just a humans, then we would all have to stop eating meat, chicken, fish, and so many more creatures that we consume on a daily basis. Diana: Well, these religious topics are a little more sensitive. So if it works for you, I will give you another reason that will support my argument that has nothing to do with religion aspects. I believe animals can have the same type of suffering as humans do. They can see, listen, smell, and even feel just like humans. They are living creatures so they have feelings. It is unmoral to torture an animal that can live a normal life just as a human would. Melanie: As I stated before, I personally believe animals have no rights, and so I don’t agree with what you just mentioned. Diana: Do you really believe you are living a good life by doing this? What’s your definition of a good life? Melanie: A good life for me is a life in which I can satisfy my desires.
My desires are to improve and create new medicines so that what now seems to be a mortal disease can later on become one that has a cure. This gives me personal satisfaction. I think about this and not about what people think of me when I do my job. I don’t really think on how people see me, I just want to create new cures. I think we would both agree if I told you death is something completely unavoidable. Then what’s wrong with animals dying a little sooner in order to allow humans to live a little longer? So, what is your idea of a good life?
Diana: For me, a good life is a life lived with love. A life where the essential things are not visible and they are intangible. Material objects are not important. A life where you should transmit love rather than suffering. Mistreating animals in order to save humans life is not showing love. I can’t take this as a way of living a good life.
Melanie: Well, I like your way of seeing life and I respect it, Diana. I’m sorry, I had a really nice time but I have to catch the 6:00 p.m. bus to New York.
Diana: Oh! All right, thank you for coming anyway. I really appreciated and valued this conversation a lot. I hope you can change your mind someday and try and communicate my thoughts with your
colleagues! Melanie: Sure, anytime you want to chat again just let me know! See you.
Emma: She didn't get into Ohio State *Emma whispered*. Thank you Mrs. Adkins but I have to go
The information that animals have provided scientists over the past decades has changed society, and is still changing society for the better. Millions of lives have been saved with the use of animal testing and many more will be saved with continued research. However, there are many who dismiss this monumental achievement completely and oppose the use of animals in laboratory research. Though many find this practice to be
“Ok ok, I’m going.” I reply again I slowly drift to sleep thinking of that cute girl I saw today, I think her name is Jill…
Testing animals is used to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medicinal drugs, check the safety of products intended for human use, and other biomedical, commercial, and healthcare roles. The earliest recordings of animal studies date back to Aristotle, who discovered the anatomical differences among animals by analyzing them (Introduction). Advocates of animal testing say that it has enabled the growth of numerous medical advancements, tests to see if new products are save for mankind, acquisition of new scientific knowledge, and because it is accurate (B). Opponents of animal testing say that it is cruel and inhumane to try out on animals, many animals die from the animal testing, it’s unethical, animals don’t have a say in it, the accuracy is in question because they are testing animals and not humans, and the toll of animal testing is high (B). Through the pros and cons of everything, it is bad to test animals because animals are very different from human beings and thus make poor test subjects and are unreliable, the cost and upkeep of it is expensive, and because there are alternatives to animal testi...
In many parts of the world, animals are being used in laboratories are still suffering and dying to test cosmetics. In
The ethics behind using animals for experiments and tests has been questioned and debated for years. Many people believe that animal experimentations can be crucial towards medical breakthroughs such as the cure for cancer, HIV/AIDS or asthma. Meanwhile others argue that animals that are used to test cosmetics such as make-up and perfumes are inhuman because is not going to help improve the human race. Animals suffer through multiple types of torture such as being forced to ingest poisonous chemicals, blinded, burned, stapled, and infected with disease viruses. Even though animal experimentation may be considered inhumane to many, animal experimentation is crucial to advancements in medical research and can lead to a better quality of life; on the other hand, animal experimentation should not be used to develop cosmetics because such experimentation is cruel and unnecessary.
Current animal testing has been a contentious subject ever since it started off 150 years back. Although a lot of people discover animal testing inhumane and egoistic, it is an important factor to boost our understanding of medication and to improve our understanding of science. Animal testing, to some, is the way to ameliorate our level of living and preserve many lives, and therefore has many benefits. On the other hand, the negatives may not be passed, and scientists are constantly trying to decrease the damage with some methods they create in the process. Even so, to the dismay of numerous animal lovers in addition to those who are endeavoring for animal rights, animal testing will not be stopped every time soon because, for now, it is the most trustworthy form of testing that includes the safety of daily products we use more carefully than any other procedure.
Throughout history, animal testing has played an important role in leading to new discoveries and human benefit. However, what many people forget are the great numbers of animals that have suffered serious harm during the process of animal testing. Animal testing is the use of animals in biological, medical, and psychological studies. The development and enhancement of medical research has been based on the testing of animals. There are many questions being asked if animal research is good or not or if the benefit for us is way greater the abuse of animals. Doing tests on animals can help find ways to cure diseases, but testing on them is wrong. Although we want to find cures for diseases to help many people, testing on animals not only brutally hurts them but it also denies the animals the rights they have.
The Cruelty of Cosmetic Testing on Animals Each year, thousands of animals are brutally tortured in laboratories, in the name of cosmetic research. A movement to ban animal testing for cosmetic purposes has been gaining popularity, with many companies hopping on the bandwagon against this research. New alternatives have been developed to eliminate the need to test on animals. This is only a small beginning of what is necessary to end these immoral acts. Animal testing in cosmetics is useless and cruel, and can be accomplished by other methods of research to end the suffering of animals.
Animal testing has long played a part in the science of testing, and it still plays a very important role in the medical world. Testing on animals in order to create a cure for AIDS is one thing, but testing on animals for human vanity is another. Animal testing is used to test the safety of a product. It has kept some very unsafe substances out of the cosmetic world. However, in this day in age, animal testing is not the only way to test the safety of a product. Animal testing in cosmetics has decreased over the years. However, it is still used by many companies in America. Animal testing is not only cruel, but it is also unnecessary in today’s advanced scientific world.
Dr. Simmonds, a veterinarian who specializes in the care of laboratory animals, is one of many who believe that animal testing is an ethical practice. He and many others see the testing as inevitable and say it must continue to help humans survive. “The elimination of horrible disease, the increase of longevity, the avoidance of great pain, the saving of lives, and the improvement of the quality of lives achieved through research using animals is so incalculably great…”(Cohen 27-28).
It still comes as a surprise to me that with all the technology in today’s society, we are still relying on animals for cosmetic research. Some people think that it is acceptable and even justified to test on mere animals rather than risk hurting people. So, for these kinds of people, animal testing makes perfect sense. However, in my opinion, animals are living creatures and have the right to live out their lives as nature intended rather than simply surviving in cages while being poked and prodded with whatever scientists fancy. I think it is depressing and sort of grotesque that I am using products that have been tested on animals that are even commonly bred as our pets. So, I began my research to find out what companies still test on animals, why they do so, and what other alternatives they could use in place of animal testing.
"Thanks, but for the last time," I said, trying not to sound ungrateful. "I honestly do not need to see a therapist."
To every pet owner, how would it feel if your pet spent the rest of their life in a cage, while another living being applies different chemicals over and over again to see if it causes any reaction? This is what any mice, rabbit, frog, dogs have to deal with every day in order to provide humans with new medicine and products. Animal testing has been occurring for decades in order to help out medicine and the beauty industry. Many scientists have accepted the fact that animal testing can be an essential contribution to discovering new medicine. Unfortunately, animals are being used for experiments on a daily basis and being exploited for consumerism. Animal testing should not be allowed and there should be stricter laws against it or find other methods to do experiments.
Cosmetic animal testing has been a controversial topic for decades but has recently gained more attention from the media due to oppositional organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Those in favor of animal experimentation make the argument that they are taking animals’ lives to save humans’, but is it really necessary to subject animals to torturous conditions or painful experiments in the name of science? Animal experimentation needs to be abolished because it is unethical and selfish to destroy an animal 's life.