...Animal Testing According to Utilitarianism, Animal testing is morally good because it brings about great utility. Animal testing has contributed to many life-saving cures and treatments. As a consequence of the polio vaccine, tested on animals, it reduced the global occurrence of the disease from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 223 cases in 2012. Around 2.5 million women walk on the breast for cancer survivor walkathon with great happiness. Happiness is increased because all those family members who had to see suffering: a mom go through chemotherapy, a son who has no energy left after dialysis to be a kid, a husband who has to see his wife work double shift to pay for his medication, now can be at peace as a consequence of animal testing. The annual income of an American is about $24,062; multiply it by how many people benefit from a vaccine dealing life or death and it is a very big net gain for the country. The numbers of animals tested does not surpass the life long pleasure it brings to people’s lives. Animals are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many ways. Chimpanzees share 99% of their DNA with humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans. Animal testing produces a greater outcome for many by great advancement in technology. Animals themselves benefit from the goodness of animal testing because vaccines are used to heal them too. If vaccines were not tested on animals, millions of animals would have died from rabies, distemper...
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...Questions have been raised about whether the Criminal Code Amendment (Animal Protection) Bill’s main purpose is really to enhance the protection of domestic animals or is it rather to protect the commercial and trading interests of the animal industries. These amendments would deter the investigators who have been extremely successful in exposing animal cruelty. Remarks have been made regarding the bill not being concerned with people who witness the animal cruelty firsthand, but only if one records or photographs malicious animal cruelty. The RSPCA has urged a federal senate committee in order to throw out the proposed bill. RSPCA Australia Policy Officer, Mr Jed Goodfellow has stated that this bill “is focused on the wrong people” he believes that “the bystanders who witness cruelty that lack the motivation to report what they see” are the ones who should be focused on (RSPCA, 2015). The bill aims to add laws in regards to animals to the Criminal Code Act of 1995, which currently has no legislation in place to protect animals (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015). Goodfellow proclaims that this bill is “fundamentally flawed and has nothing to do with animal protection” and that all it does is impose an unrealistic reporting timeframe that applies only to the minor groups of people who take videos or photographs. He states that the bill actually fails to address the underlying causes of animal cruelty and ignores the fact that a person watching the cruelty is just as responsible...
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...Evaluating Credibility and Validity of Sources: We learned that it is important to evaluate the credibility of the source and make a judgement on its relevance to our topic/argument. Credibility can be validated based off on the background of the author, impartiality, style and tone of article and currency. For instance for an argument on animal rights as described in…, the argument can be presented in different ways depending on the specialization of the author. A phychologist, philosopher or economist might present the argument in different style. Also, the author’s personal interest to the subject might affect the an author’s opinion or treatment to the subject. For instance, an author who is vegetarian is likely to argue against using animals for food and may present argument in a way that’s less than impartial. The publication Alongwith the author’s background, it is also important to validate the author’s personal interest associated to the subject ; We also learned that a special interest or preference might affect an author’s opinion or treatment to subject. In the simplest terms, a declared vegetarian is likely to argue against using animals for food and may present those arguments in a way that’s less than impartial. The writing style and tone is another way to form credibility and validity of sources of information. You should determine whether the tone is professional or not. If it is indeed professional and the tone is for the targeted audience...
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... Humans are fascinated by the unknown; we observe, hypothesize, and theorize our surroundings. Often, the unknown is not within our reach (e.g. God), but sometimes it is (e.g. some species). Historically, we have captivated and violated other species for our hedonism. We ignore the ecological repercussions of our actions and hide the moral guilt, if any. James Gorman, a science reporter for the New York Times, attempts to provide an answer by asking whether “some…animals on the planet be kept in captivity by human beings?” To elucidate, he focuses on orcas, one of the most “social, intelligent, and charismatic” animals we know of. Although he does not provide a clear consensus or divergent scientific arguments to fully satisfy the readers, he compels them to evaluate the trade-offs and critically think about the issue. Firstly, by receiving endorsements from other scientists, Gorman provides a scientific basis to his research question. Diana Reiss, a professor of psychology who studies animal behavior, comments, “I never felt that we should have orcas in captivity. I think morally, as well as scientifically, it’s wrong.” While we are well aware of why keeping orcas in captivity is immoral, nonscientist readers, who might not be as informed as scientists, may look for substantial quantitative evidence that demonstrates why it is scientifically wrong. Secondly, Gorman provides examples of the opposing side to illustrate uncertainty on the subject—albeit not scientific...
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...1. Research Question or Problem The purpose of this article was to identify the different arguments made in regards to the use of animals in behavioral and biomedical research and the benefits of facilitating classroom room discussions amongst psychology students concerning this controversial topic. 2. Introduction Herzog H.A, (1990) believed that since the publishing of Singer’s book, Animal Liberations, in 1975, public concern over the ethical treatment of animals has significantly risen (p. 90). According to Rollin (1981, as cited by Harold, 1990) experimental psychology was “the field most consistently guilty of mindless activities that results in great suffering.” This debate has caused psychology students to question the use of animals in behavioral research. According to this article there are three reasons why discussing animal rights is crucial to psychology students. First, students should be conscious of political and social concerns associated with psychology that could have an effect on their lives. Second, animal rights issues raise questions related to psychology such as, “can animals think?” or “What are the essential differences between humans and animals?” Third, the use of animals in laboratory courses has received lots of censure (p. 90). To facilitate students to think about these issues, the author has designed a classroom exercise that has students making decisions about whether or not a series of theoretical proposals, pertaining to animal...
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...Animal Equality: Effects of Giving Animals Rights PHI 103 Informal Logic June 2, 2014 Argument When it comes to animal equality it can be hard to imagine a dog, cat, or even a hamster of having equivalence. When I think of animals, I picture our pets, wild animals, and even those in which are consumed. The question of what is and what is not ethically appropriate in the treatment of animals has is debatable. Peter Singer’s provides a utilitarian arguments for why animals with a certain level of perceptive justify equal moral attention with humans. Introduction Singer calls for the establishment of a “liberation movement” comparable to those that remained emerging up throughout the dated in which he wrote his essay and attentive on such problems as gay, women’s and African-American rights. Noting how previously “legitimate” forms of judgment and prejudice, over time, correctly came to be observed as unfairly and immorally damaging towards definite classes of people, Singer argues that the time has come for a similar pledge to the rights of species that walk on four legs instead of two. The animal liberation movement, which was essentially begun by Singer’s book, Slate.com (2001) argues “It is ethically wrong to use animals in such a way that we cause them suffering, either by deprivation of essential components of a happy existence, or by causing them pain.” (Slate.com, 2001) The animal liberationists would like to disallow most medical experimentation using animal...
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...about. In addition I will provide real life examples of why granting animals too many rights is harmful to both animals and humans. To do this I will first go over and analyze the arguments laid out by Carl Cohen who is opposed to animal rights. I will then discuss the arguments presented by Tom Regan. After this I will present my own opinion based on their arguments and the writings of others. Animal rights is the idea that some or all nonhuman animals are entitled to the possession of their own lives, and that their most basic interests – such as an interest in not suffering – should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings. Advocatess, such as Peter Singer oppose the assignment of moral value and fundamental protections on the basis of species membership alone – an idea known as speciesism. Peter singer argues that speciesism is a prejudice similar to racism or sexism, in that the treatment of individuals is predicated on group membership and morally irrelevant physical differences. The argument is that species membership has no moral significance.[2] Tom Regan In The Case for Animal Rights, argues that non-human animals bear moral rights. Regan points out that we routinely ascribe inherent value, and thus the right to be treated...
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...Joel Schwartz Final Paper - Draft 7/16/12 Professor Hoge English 1020 Animal Rights Activism: A Domestic Terror Threat Throughout the past two decades, extreme animal rights groups have claimed responsibility for hundreds of crimes and acts of terrorism, including arson, bombings, vandalism, burglary, animal release, and harassment. These crimes have caused damage costing more than one hundred million dollars. While some activists have been captured, animal rights terrorism cells, are extremely difficult to identify and most of the attacks remain unsolved. Although it has been overshadowed by Islamic terrorist threats since September 11, animal rights terrorism still remains one of the United State’s most active terrorist movements. This paper intends to explore the Animal Rights terrorist movement and prove that Animal Rights activists pose a significant domestic terror threat. An increasing number of terrorist activity in the United States has been carried out in the name of animal protection. Although no one has been killed in an attack, the increasingly violent nature of attacks suggests that someone will be proclaimed dead before long. Beginning in the 1970s, hundreds of groups in the United States have advocated for much stricter legal protection for animals. Change has been slow but incremental. Some activists have become frustrated by the pace of legislation, and have become violent. This violence has created an underground terrorist movement...
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...Nowadays, animals are in danger of dying out, at least one million animal species have already disappeared since 1980. Worse still, as the using of hunting, laboratories, and commercial getting common, the number of animal species decreases faster and faster, and this phenomenon will continue if no one come out and speak up for the animals. Today, animal right is a highly contentious issue. Do animals have rights? Philosophers have different standpoints. In “The Case for Animals Rights” which is written by Tom Regan, Regan states that animals should have fundamental rights as humans, and also be protected from the unnecessary harm. In addition, in Peter Singer’s article “All Animals Are Equal”, he has the same standpoint as Regan that animals should have the same principles that human received. In contrast, in the article “The Case of the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research” by Carl Cohen, he supports Regan in his moral theory, however, he argues that animals should not have rights, and he also points out that the using of animals in medical research is important. “The Case for Animal Rights”, “All Animals are Equal” and “The Case of the use of Animals in Biomedical Research” let us know that although hurting animals is not unlawful, it’s morally wrong; for the purpose of protecting animals, people must change their beliefs. In Regan’s article, he supports that animals are equal to humans, and should have the same rights as humans. Although animals and us born in different...
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...“… Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being?...” (Bentham, 1780) In Mexico there are no federal laws that regulates de liability of the owners of an animal, punishes abuse or protects the integrity of domestic animals, all that has been created so far are measures in the penal code of different states that aren’t very useful due to the unnecessary complexity in the structure of the law that result in judges not understanding them, forgetting their existence of the law or simply decide to ignore them. That’s why the government should decree laws at federal level that protect animals against mistreatment, grant them safety, dignity and a rightful treatment. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), there are 3 million dogs in Estado de Mexico; 1 dog per 5 people. The terrifying data comes from the Adoption Center and Animal Rescue AC: there’s an estimate that 7 out of 10 dogs are victims of abuse and neglect. When they talk about abuse and neglect it does not only relate to dogs on the street, it is also consider those with home. Every year a million pets (dogs and cats) suffer from mistreatment. Statistics from an animal protection organization called Milagros Caninos located in Mexico City shows that a hundred percent of the dogs they’ve given shelter to, suffered from mistreat, torture, rape and vexation. In the last decades, sociocultural factors have increased...
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...The Quabbin Reserve is a heaven to hunters. Because of restrictions this area has been preserved and is beautiful. However what makes it special is the amount of deer. Hunting is not allowed and these animals manipulated very fast. The problem is how to control the deer population. Singer would want the best for the most amount of people; in this case “the people” are deer. Tom Regan may say that the animals have the same rights as humans. Either way the situation needs to be handled with respect to Singer’s and Regan’s views. Regan calls animals “subjects-of-a-life”. He also uses the same terminology for humans. Regan believes animals should have the same moral rights as humans. He believes an infant or a mentally retarded man should be treated the same as a normal person. However the death of an animal may not be as important to the death of a human being because fewer opportunities are lost. He looks at what a person could accomplish in his lifetime and compares it to what an animal could accomplish and the human overrules. These views can be challenged in the Quabbin reserve. We simply cannot kill the deer because they have rights. However the death of a deer is not equivalent to the death of a human. But I cannot justify killing hundreds of deer with Regan’s view. The deer are not harming us so it would be immoral to kill them. On the other side Peter Singer’s views differ a little bit. Going of the basic utilitarian idea "the greatest good of the greatest number" he...
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...Famous Thinkers Paper Peter Singer Peter Singer was born on July 6th 1946 in Australia. His family escaped Austria during the World War II from Nazis. Most of his relatives died in Nazi camps because they were Jews. Singer is considered to be one of the most influencing living thinkers however he was also called as the best-known vegetarian, and the most dangerous man in the World. He received death threats because of his beliefs and opinions. As he said in an interview for Policy Innovation, his main aim is to reduce unnecessary suffering in the World (Ethics Matter: A Conversation with Peter Singer, 2011). As Peter Singer stated himself “why I have focused on those issues, because I think, as a utilitarian philosopher rather than an expert in particular issues, I can make a contribution (Ethics Matter: A Conversation with Peter Singer, 2011). Peter Singer is known to be one of the most important supporters of Preference Utilitarianism, which in other words mean: “An action is right if it maximally furthers the interests of those affected by it” (Sloane, 1999, p. 53). Among his most controversial and best-known arguments are linked to the world poverty, animal rights, infanticide, abortion, and euthanasia. As a reason for becoming vegetarian and the notion of argument about animal rights was as Singer states an ordinary lunch with his friend who happened to be vegetarian and he presented to him the issue of factory farming ("Peter Singer '07: Animal Rights", 2011). His...
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...An Ethical Dilemma An ethical dilemma is when somebody is faced with a situation that causes them to question how they should react and if they believe that their decision is right or wrong. In life, people are faced with ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. Many times, the situation can be so complex that people want to do the right thing, but do not always follow their instinct. It can be common to go along with what is unethical due to feelings of fear from the consequences that may arise. This can happen anywhere and at anytime. Ethical dilemmas are constantly arising especially with animal experimentation. Animal experimentation is a very popular and widely used method to develop new medicines and to test the safety of products. These experiments are conducted whether they cause pain to the animal or not. In addition to causing the animal pain, these experiments can greatly diminish their quality of life. Animal experimenters are to be made aware of this ethical problem, and are instructed to make the process as humane as possible. There are two opposing sides to this ethical dilemma. The first side would be that conducting these experiments can benefit human life. The second side argues that it causes suffering to animals, the benefits to human beings are not proven, and alternative testing could always be provided. Animal rights extremists believe that those that experiment on animals have zero moral standing. However, the argument is whether conducting these experiments...
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...Topic: Animal testing is unjust and unnecessary. I. Ineffective a. Results don’t apply to humans 1. 92% tested drugs fail phase 1 human clinical trial 2. Cured cancer in mice – no cure for humans 3. Barbiturates for stroke effective for animals – not for humans 4. HIV/AIDS vaccines effective for all 85 monkeys – not for humans 5. Nimodipine no effect on cats and baboons – effect on humans b. Animals hard to predict 1. Difficult to show headache, amnesia, nausea, depression, allergies, disorders 2. Different physiological structure, function, chemistry 3. Body malformations can be from any substance II. Expensive a. Wasted money 1. $400,000 mercury inhalation experiment– no desired effect 2. $400,000 arsenic and lead in soil experiment – other methods cheaper b. Costly experiments 1. $1,900,000 total for dogs 2. 21,000,000 total for monkeys 3. $16,000,000,000 total for all c. Uses our money 1. Taxes 2. Donations to charities 3. Lottery tickets 4. Consumer products III. Dangerous a. Results mislead 1. TGN1412 – all 6 humans to hospital with permanent organ injury 2. 30% patients further damage with tested therapies b. Causes human deaths 1. 60,000 and more from rofecoxib 2. 390 from troglitazone 3. 300 from cisapride 4. Total 180,000 annual in USA in 1990s 5. 180,000 each year in USA in 1990s IV. Cruel to animals a. Painful experiments 1. Inhale toxic gases 2. Holes drilled in skulls 3. Skin burned off 4. Spinal...
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...Sample Interview Questions with Suggested Ways of Answering Q. Tell me about yourself. A. This is the dreaded, classic, open-ended interview question and likely to be among the first. It's your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, etc. Keep it mostly work and career related. Q. Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?) A. Be careful with this. Avoid trashing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move." Q. What are your strengths? A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job. Q. What are your weaknesses? A. Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend too much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too hard." It's a predictable, common answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it. Q. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself? A. Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working, honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well. Q. What do you know about our company? A. To answer this one, research the company before you interview. Q. Why do you want to work for us? A. Same as above. Research the company...
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