Philosophical Foundations and Animals in Testing: Concerns and Consequences

Abstract

The Portuguese version of this paper can be found at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2928984

English Abstract: With its ultimate focus being the current practice of animal testing, this article begins with an overview of the religious, mythical, and scientific backdrop against which nonhuman animal welfare is currently considered. The article then offers suggested readings for philosophical approaches to animal ethics before discussing the distinctions between in vivo and in vitro testing, with the latter approach encouraged by Darwin. The article then reviews the Three Rs — Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction — that currently guides the scientific community’s approach to animal experimentation. By establishing how the three Rs approach for humane testing on animals arises in response to involuntary testing on human communities, the article asks if the same considerations to be fully extended to nonhuman animals. From here, the article discusses shortcomings in the Animal Welfare Act and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees in particular, and compares these shortfalls to the more robust EU model, which makes animal welfare an express value. The article concludes by establishing the improvements spurred by the Three Rs principle, while noting that it still fails to truly account for research animals’ interests in not being experimented on.

Portuguese Abstract: O presente paper busca, a partir da filosofia e da ciência moderna, demonstrar como são conduzidas as pesquisas cientificas nos Estados Unidos. A fim de abordar essa questão avança-se para entender a situação moral e legal dos animais na sociedade. Animais são vistos como uma propriedade em cada país do planeta, disponíveis para qualquer uso que os humanos considerem adequados. Para entender a situação atual, a autora propõe um olhar através da historia.

Keywords: animal rights, abolitionisim, animal testing

JEL Classification: K00