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Homework Help: Social Studies: World Issues: Animal Testing
by Alex Chuang
Animal Testing: Scientific or Barbaric?
Animals have been used in research for over 2,000 years. During the
Renaissance Period, scientists studied animals before studying the human
bodies because dissections of human bodies were illegal in that time.
Opposition of animal research also started during that time. A philosopher
named Jeremy Bentham said that humans and animals both have the ability to
suffer and have a right not to suffer and die at the hands of others.
Bentham wrote, "The question is not, 'Can they reason,' nor 'Can they talk,' but, 'Can they suffer?'"
Animals are very similar to humans in some ways. They are intelligent in
some way. Primates take care of their young almost the same way we do.
Some people believe that animals have no moral judgment. There is no such
thing as moral judgment, only survival. Lions are more focused on how to
find food than trying to figure out whether it would be right to kill its
prey. Humans do not use moral judgment. We cause conflicts because of lack
of moral judgment. People only care about money. To us money is the key to
survive, not water, or food. Some people cheat to get more money. For not
only survival, but also power, a higher chance of survival. In my opinion,
we do not have moral judgment.
Animal testing helped us understand more about medication, psychological,
and environment. Test should be minimal in order not to endanger the lives
of animals. There are alternatives to studying science without the use of
animals. Scientists can use computers to make models or study cells under a
microscope. No matter what, we should try to discover new scientific
advances without endangering any lives at all. Animals are living things
and they have rights that cannot be taken away. We should respect these
rights as we respect our own.
Homework Help: Social Studies: World Issues
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