Use of animals

• Arguments for using animals:

  • more complex behaviours can be studied in mammals and generalised to humans
  • behaviourists argue that conditioning processes are the same in all animals which means we can conduct experiments with animals and generalise to humans
  • fewer ethical issues regarding experimenting on animals than humans- informed consent is not required and physical harm is more acceptable
• Arguments against using animals:

  • not justifiable to generalise from animals to humans, especially with complex behaviours such as addiction that doesn't exist in animals, and humans are capable of much more cognitive processing
  • guidelines that regulate the use of animals may not be effective, a review of animal studies found that number of animals used were not being reported accurately and studies were poorly designed
  • pain and suffering is avoidable however animal studies cause immense harm
• Animal studies -examples

  Pavlov and Skinner used rats and dogs in their study's to demonstrate conditioning

  • some of skinner's operant chambers contained electrical floors to punish the rats- causing pain and distress
  • In pavlovs study the dogs were kept alone and tied to a harness, which may have caused distress - along with having a surgically inserted tube to collect the saliva which may have resulted in permanent damage and distress.
• Arguments that it is unethical to use animals: pain and distress

  Sneddon 2003 injected rainbow trout with bee venom and found that the fish started rocking side to side, thus indicating it was in pain.

  The treaty of Lisbon 2009 declared that all animals are sentient- self aware so they - therefore there is no moral justification for using animals
• Arguments that it is unethical to use animals: speciesism

  Singer 2009 argues that discrimination on the basis of membership of a species is no different from racial or gender discrimination.

  However, Gray argues that we have a special duty of care to humans so using animals and concept of speciesism is not the same
• Arguments that it is unethical to use animals: rights of animals

  Singer argues that if testing on animals can alleviate pain and suffering then it is justifiable
• Animal scientific procedures act 1986

  States that resarch needs a licence form the home office- premises must be licenced for animal resarch as must every individual involved in the resarch. Laboratory animals must be procured from high quality suppliers who comply with home office standards.