Shandell Smith
Philosophy 2300
May 3, 2013
Position Paper
Animal Experimentation
There are currently millions of different species of animals being experimented on in this
world. I believe that animal experimentation is wrong, and should not be allowed. There are
many ways to show you don’t support animal experimentation, such as; not buying products that
are made by those who experiment on animals. “More and more companies are switching to nonanimal tests as consumer support for cruelty-free products grows.”1 (PETA) This alone would
should someone just how serious this epidemic is, now that more people are against it, more
companies don’t want to be a part of it. It’s important that we realize what’s going on all around
us; the things that are done to these animals need to be brought to everyone’s attention.
Animal testing started in the 2nd and 4th centuries of BCE. As you can see, it’s been
around for millions of years. “The founders, in 1831, of the Dublin Zoo were members of the
medical profession, interested in studying the animals both while they were alive and when they
were dead.”2 (Wikipedia) This shows us, that even members who worked at a zoo were
interested in animal testing after the animals were dead, but they also wanted to know what they
could stand while they were alive. Edmund O’Meara was one of the first to criticize the testing
of animals, saying that the results weren’t reliable. The estimated amount of animal testing done
1
2
PETA. Animal Testing 101. Web.
Wikipedia. Animal Testing. History. Web.
in 2005 was roughly 1.2 million, not including rats or mice. After reading more about animal
testing, my thesis, I believe that animal experimentation is wrong, and should not be allowed, is
even more true to me. When I look at 1.2 million animals being experimented on, it makes me
sick. How any one person can think that this is okay is beyond me.
“Cats are most commonly used in neurological research. Over 25,500 cats were used in the U.S.
in 2000, around half of whom were used in experiments which, according to the American AntiVivisection Society, had the potential to cause ‘Pain and/or Distress’”3 (Wikipedia) This means
that about 12,750 cats were caused pain and/or distress, the thought of a cat being tortured just
for our products is unbelievable. When I look at my friend’s house cat, I can’t picture it being
caused any pain. It’s so sweet and caring; all they need is some attention and love. If the animal
testing continues, then there might not be any cats left for little kids to have, or even dogs. “Dogs
are widely used in biomedical research, testing and education – particularly beagles, because
they are gentle and easy to handle.”4 (Wikipedia) This just shows how wrong and twisted animal
testing is, they specifically choose beagles because beagles will just sit there and let them do
whatever they want to them. It’s horrible to think that they have to pick the calm animals for
their testing; otherwise they won’t get done what they need to.
For those who aren’t aware, animal testing is when certain harmful things are done to an
animal, such as; monkey’s being addicted to drugs, or cats being purposely blinded. When you
think of animal testing, you think of people just using our toothpaste on an animal to see if it’s
safe, but it’s so much more extensive than that. Many of you have probably heard of PETA
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The focus mainly on testing in cosmetic
3
4
Wikipedia. Animal Testing. Cats and Dogs Subheading. Web.
Wikipedia. Animal Testing. Cats and Dogs subheading. Web.
laboratories, dog and cat food trials and weapons tests, that’s just to name a few. “If you’re like
most people, you were probably horrified to see news footage of dogs locked in metal chambers,
convulsing and dying, as al-Qaeda terrorists pumped toxic gases into the chambers. You’d
probably be even more horrified to know that your tax dollars fund the same experiments by the
federal government right here in the U.S.—and not just at the Defense Department.”5 (PETA)
The author points out to the reader that many aren’t aware of this issue, they want people to
know what’s going on in their own country, to not just focus on the other countries.
Philosopher, Tom Regan, discuses animal experimentation in his book, “Animal Rights,
Human Wrongs.” Within his book, he talks about a specific type of experiment done on a
Rabbit. He states; “The stock is a handmaiden of science, and the rabbit confined by it is not in
the wild but in a research laboratory. If we look closely, we will see that one of the rabbit’s eyes
is ulcerated.”6 (Regan, p.107) These rabbits follow the Draize test, named after its inventor.
They have no tear ducts so they can’t fight off infection within their eye; they use a new
cosmetic or perhaps toothpaste to see the reaction that the rabbit has to the substance. Regan
feels that by putting a lot on the prevention of cruelty can be counterproductive. A person who
takes joy in pain would fall under the category of cruel, being cruel and causing pain need to be
separated. There are a lot of people in this world who cause pain. Your doctor can cause you
pain, or your dentist, does that mean that they’re cruel?
When we fall back on my thesis, I believe that animal experimentation is wrong, and
should not be allowed, we see that PETA feels the exact same way as I do but that Regan has a
different point of view on what should be considered to be cruel. Regan states; “The moral
5
6
PETA. Animal Testing In Depth. Web.
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs. Tom Regan. P.107
rightness or wrongness of a person’s actions is different. Persons can do what is right or wrong
whatever their state of mind.”7 (Regan, p.107) The thing that I don’t agree with about this
statement is that if a lab researcher knows that what they’re doing isn’t right, then why would
they continue to do it? They might have a proper state of mind to any psychologist, but what
kind of person is okay with doing this? I feel that anyone who is involved in animal
experimentation isn’t in the right state of mind. PETA lists many things that are done to animals,
the best examples would be the mice that have tumors that are twice their size, cats and ferrets
have plastic tubes stuffed down their throats, sheep and pigs have their skin burned off. Does it
make sense as to why? Why, in order for us to use our toothpaste, must a sheep be skinned? Why
in order to use cosmetic care must a mice have a tumor? Regan points out that it doesn’t matter if
someone enjoys it, because even if the person feels sorry for them they are still being unjustified.
They’re still causing pain to animals, and in my opinion they’re still being cruel.
When you look at the utilitarian account, you are taught that it has two different
principles. One is equality and the other is utility itself. Obviously, equality is pretty selfexplanatory. This form avoids the grossest forms of prejudice. Utility itself, “according to this
principle, we are to act so as to bring out the greatest possible balance of good over evil.”8
(Regan, p.108) Utility itself says that you must take the interests of everyone affected by it, for
example; if someone was affected by animal experimentation, but it was only one person than it
wouldn’t be taken into account. If there were thousands affected by this then it would be taken
into account. “Singer argues that we become vegetarians and that we oppose much (even if not
quite all_ research involving animal subjects.”9 (Regan, p.109) I have to agree with Singer, in
7
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs. Tom Regan P.107
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs. Tom Regan. P.108
9
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs. Tom Regan. P.109
8
some way, I don’t feel that we all need to become vegetarian’s to no longer be cruel but I do
believe that we should stop animal testing. I don’t agree with all of Regan’s point of views or
even of Singer’s, but in a way they are both right. Singer is very strong on stopping animal
testing, but Regan is trying to point out that there’s no way to label it as being cruel, because
being cruel means an entirely different thing.
In conclusion, I believe that animal testing is wrong, and shouldn’t be allowed. I feel that
it does no good for us humans, there are plenty of other ways to test our products, or maybe try
using chemicals that are safe that you know won’t need any testing. It’s awful to think of all
these poor animals that won’t get to live their full life because a human thinks it’s okay to run
tests on them. It’s time that we stop animal testing, and treats the animals just as we want to be
treated.
Works Cited
Regan, Tom. Animal Rights, Human Wrongs, An Introduction To Moral Philosophy. Rowman &
Littlefield Pub Inc, 1980. Print.
Wikipedia. “Animal Testing.” Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Multiple Authors. April 20, 2013.
Web. May 4, 2013.
People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals. Animal Testing 101. PETA. 2013. Web.
May 4, 2013.
People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals. Animal Testing in Depth. PETA. 2013. Web.
May 4, 2013.