Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of different ethical views on animal experimentation. Special attention is given to the production and experimental use of genetically modified animals. It proposes a middle course between those positions that are very critical and those very positive. This middle course implies that animal experiments originating in vital human research interests are commonly justified, provided that animal welfare is taken seriously. Some animal experiments are not acceptable, since the expected human benefit is too low and the animal suffering too severe. This position is supported by an argument from species care according to which we have special obligations to our children and other humans due to special relations. The book tries to bridge the gap between animal ethics and animal welfare science by discussing various conceptions of animal welfare: function-centered, feeling-based, and those focusing on natural living. The theoretical starting-point is “imaginative casuistry.” This approach stresses the role of moral imagination and metaphor in ethical deliberation, accepts a plurality of values, and recognizes the importance of case-by-case balancing. In the discussion of genetically modified animals, both intrinsic ethical concerns and animal welfare concerns are addressed.
Trade Review"The philosophical discussion of the five ethical prototypes on animal experimentation provides interesting insights into the main argumentative structures and logic of the arguments, and the author is largely committed to provide a robust foundation for his position. The knowledge about technical problems relating to genetic engineering in animals is solid." – in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 14 (2011), 219–223 "This book should appeal to a broad range of readers interested in the ethics of animal experimentation. It is particularly appropriate for scientists and others who have a limited background in the various philosophical positions used to criticize or support animal research. … The presentation is lucid and refreshingly nontechnical. … Nordgren stresses the ‘3Rs’ of animal experimentation: ‘replacement, reduction, and refinement’ … Recommended." – in: CHOICE 47/11 (July 2010) "a pleasant surprise. [Nordgren’s] clear analysis and imaginative insights jolt some tired debates out of accustomed ruts and provoke thought at a deeper and more satisfying level." – in: Animal Welfare 19/3 (August 2010)
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Animal Experimentation, Public Opinion, and Philosophical Debate Five Ethical Prototypes of Animal Experimentation The Case for “Weak Human Priority” The Scientific Value of Animal Experimentation Animal Welfare and Ethical Balancing Genetically Modified Animals in Research Works Cited Index
