Essay Preview: Life
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The methods, discoveries, and conclusions of science, as well as their role in society, have generated endless debates throughout history. There was a time when one could be put to death for believing that the earth was round, or ridiculed for claiming that animal species evolve over time. Today people argue over whether it is ethical and responsible science to transplant organs, to allow a suffering person to die, or to genetically alter foods so that they possess special traits. One particular ferocious debate that emerged from the discoveries of modern day science is the debate over the rights of animals. They are used to test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs before those drugs are given to people to treat illnesses and disease. Animals are used to ensure that the ingredients in the foods we eat are safe for consumer consumption. They are also used to test products like eye shadow, lipstick, shampoo, and contact lens solution, as well as chemicals ranging from lawn fertilizers to caffeine. There should be a balance in the use of animals for scientific advancements. Although we as a society should never accept needless or cruel inflictions of pain, the potential good to all of humanity that can come from using animals for scientific studies outweighs the harm and suffering it may create.
The History:
While the debate might seem modern, animal testing and the concept of animal rights have both been around for a very long time. However, over the years, the views of people and society have changed. New ideas about what is and is not acceptable in animal testing have led to new laws and new scientific techniques. Animal testing as it is known today owes its existence to the scientific revolution of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. During this time, as the scientific point of view gained respect and
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the technology resulting from it exploded into everyday life, researchers began looking to animals for answers to questions that they couldnt find anywhere else. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, animal experimentation became increasingly popular among scientists. For the most part, no one considered animal testing to be immoral. However, one English Philosopher named Jeremy Bentham believed differently. As stated in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) website, “In 1789, Bentham, referring to animals, asked: The question is not can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?” Almost three quarters of a century later, in 1859, the naturalist Charles Darwin presented his theory of evolution in The Origin of Species. Darwins observations showed a distinct relationship between humans and animals, and his theory challenged the prevailing view that humans were the privileged creations of God. His theory also suggested that much could be learned about human behavior by observing animals. However, at the time, Darwin had little impact on prevailing attitudes toward animal testing, and researchers forged ahead, making fantastic new discoveries in biology and medicine (PETA).
In 1876, the British Cruelty to Animals Act was passed, establishing regulations for animal research in Britain. In the United States, however, attempts at passing similar laws were rejected by Congress, and in the twentieth century