Animal experiments & animal protection: An ethical balance Ethical aspects of animal experiments and the principle of solidarity

Karin Blumer

he question of the ethical acceptabil- which assume, for example, that is ity of scientific animal experiments was “animated”. The Nobel Peace Prize winner Tfirst systematically discussed in philo- developed the concept of sophical in the 1970s. The discussion radical biocentrism, which includes all forms was mainly triggered by the writings of the of life in the moral community. Although this Australian philosopher , who laid appears plausible at first sight, it is based on the foundation for the new movement on an- an extremely deontological standard. It for- imal protection with his 1976 work - Animal bids the damage of all forms of life - whether Liberation. Philosophy has been occupied for animal, plant or bacterium - and thus places centuries with the question of man’s respon- the active agent before irresolvable dilem- sibility for non- life. Philosophers have mas. used various theoretical approaches to ad- Finally, pathocentrism, as propagated by dress the complex theme of the relationship Peter Singer and many other proponents of between animals and man. animal protection, is incapable of provid- In classical , animals ing a clear proof as to why only animals with have no inherent value at all; this can now an intact central nervous system may pos- be regarded as out-dated. It was traditionally sess an inherent moral value. What however supported by such important philosophers as is a much greater problem is the proposal by Aristoteles and Immanuel Kant, together with many pathocentrics that some animals should the Christian moral theologians. Its basic as- be declared to be “persons” and to refuse to sumption is that only man is worth protection, accept the personality of some . Pe- as only man is a rational and reasonable be- ter Singer has been particularly prominent ing (or in the image of ). This led to the on this issue. For him, great apes, whales and Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) justified accusation of , first made dolphins are certainly, and all other mammals His radical biocentrism includes by Jeremy Bentham in 1789. Bentham proved very probably, persons, whereas newborn ba- that this was egoistic group behaviour, as bies, persons with severe mental handicaps all living creatures in the moral solely the membership of the biological spe- and comatose persons are degraded to “mere order. According to this, harm to cies Homo sapiens served as the ground for members of the species Homo sapiens”. any form of life - whether ani- justification. At least since the general ac- “Moderate biocentrism” or “moderate mal, plant, parasite or bacterium ceptance of the theory of evolution in the mid anthropocentrism” is a moral theory which – is forbidden. 19th century, the thesis of man’s biological might be widely acceptable and plausible uniqueness can no longer be maintained. these days. Both theories ascribe a moral sta- However, many other ethical positions tus to all forms of life, although the binding on the relationship between animals and inherent value of this increases with the po- man are equally unsatisfactory. Thus, ho- sition of the species on the evolutionary lad- lism, which demands an independent right of der (hierarchy of the ). Thus, for ex- existence for even mountains or rivers, suf- ample, there would be more reason to protect fers from its highly metaphysical premises, the health of a dog than of a hamster or of a

27 Animal experiments & animal protection: An ethical balance worm. However, the human being retains a } The increase in knowledge can be achieved special position even within “moderate bio- in no other manner. Alternative methods centrism” or “moderate anthropocentrism”. cannot be used. A principle objective of philosophical } This is not an unjustified repeated experi- ethics is to develop standards for human ac- ment. } No more animals are used than is abso- tions and to provide reasons to justify these. lutely necessary. On the basis of formal guidelines, every vio- } The animals used are as low on the evolu- lation of animal interests must be justified by tionary ladder as possible. a balanced consideration of values. This does } No avoidable harm is inflicted on the ani- not only apply to animal experiments, but to mals. This particularly applies to care, hus- all actions in which animals are used for hu- bandry and possible use of analgesia. man requirements. Committees on animal protection comply Animal experiments have a special sta- with these guidelines when approving ani- tus in the discussions of the relationship be- mal experiments. tween animals and man. This is not only This argumentation is also both permissi- because many people regard them more crit- ble and necessary for animal experiments in ically than, for example, slaughter of animals basic research. The fact is often overlooked for meat or the specific breeding of beauti- that the balanced evaluation does not sim- ply compare the interest of the animals with ful but anatomically or physiologically sick the increase in knowledge as an aim in it- races. A much more important consideration self. It is rather the case that the interests is that the motive of the scientific animal ex- must be included of the innumerable peo- periment is to increase knowledge. This in- ple who suffer from diseases which cannot crease in knowledge is by no means an end in be treated or cannot be treated adequately. itself, but has a concrete objective: the main- With these premises, a massive restriction tenance and furtherance of the health and in biomedical research, as is sometimes de- According to Aristoteles quality of life of men and animals and the in- manded, becomes ethically indefensible, as (384-322 B.C.) possess both a crease in the knowledge of nature. Although not only actions, but their omission, must be “vegetative” and an “animalistic” this goal cannot be attained in each indi- morally justified. It would only be conceiv- able to dispense with animal experiments soul. They are capable of fulfilling vidual experiment, philosophical considera- completely, if increases in scientific knowl- their own needs in a deliberate tions indicate that it possesses greater value than, for example, excessive supplies of ani- edge in wide areas of biomedical research manner, but cannot act could be sacrificed. This sacrifice would be of mal proteins to people in industrial countries reasonably. Arthur possible therapies for many diseases, which or the aesthetic demands of the owners of do- Schopenhauer (1788-1860) are not peripheral phenomena, but very com- mestic dogs or cats. As in our society an in- considered that animals possess mon. These include cancer, HIV infection and crease in knowledge possesses a high moral AIDS, cystic fibrosis, cardiovascular diseases the same characteristics as man. value, animal experiments can be justified if and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. This means that they are capable the following conditions are fulfilled: A complete prohibition of experimental of suffering and feeling. } The increase in knowledge is essential and animal research would also be in conflict with serves ethically justifiable objectives. another valid fundamental moral standard,

28 Animal experiments & animal protection: An ethical balance the solidarity principle. This describes the sions when we are compelled to violate one principle of providing the best possible sup- obligation. As long as it is scientifically im- port to all those requiring help - the weak and possible to unravel complex causal activity the sick. The solidarity principle is not only relationships in living animals without ani- one of the many preconditions for life in hu- mal research, this conflict between obliga- man communities; it is a special characteris- tions will remain the theme of ethical discus- tic of man as a morally responsible being ca- sions. There will never be a general answer pable of solidarity. to the question of whether an animal experi- People who perform animal experiments ment is justified. Only specific individual an- always experience conflict between two ob- swers are possible. 3 ligations. The first of these is positive and is the obligation to use one’s own knowl- edge and abilities to reduce human and ani- mal suffering. In contrast, the negative obli- from: Animals Experiments in Research – gation is not to inflict avoidable suffering on Thea brochure author is issued a veterinary by the physician,German Research has a doc- other creatures. In the context of human ac- torateFoundation in philosophy DFG and currently works in the tivity, we often find it difficult to reach deci- pharmaceutical industry.

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