28 - Animal subjects research Part I: Do animals have rights?

Summary

This chapter considers what it means to say that a being deserves moral consideration. It addresses the question what it means to say that a being has a right to life. The chapter explores the meaning of a right to life and considers the claim that, even if a being lacks a right to life, it deserves to have its interests taken into account. It considers three distinct answers: the conservative view, liberal view, and the moderate view to the issue of moral distinctiveness about humanity. Despite the fact that Immanuel Kant's philosophy encourages the humane treatment of animals, critics charge that it gives insufficient regard to animals. The chapter presents Peter Singer's seven ideas of argument against certain forms of animal experimentation. For Singer, the ethically crucial requirement is that our actions produce as much pleasure and happiness and as little pain and misery as possible for all beings.