Do Animals Have Rights - Essay Example

I personally believe that animals have rights too and they should be given due attention. It is not moral to use animals for trivial research purposes. My argument is that of moral significance. If we are sacrificing animals for a cause that is morally significant then sacrificing animals our actions are justified. For example, if animals are used for research purposes that may help human beings fight a disease then this research work is justified because of the moral significance of our actions.

But at the same time, the use of animals for reasons that are not morally significant must be stopped. This includes testing of different cosmetic products on them. This is not right at all as this will come under the abuse of animals. They may not be equal but still, they are living beings and their abuse shall not be granted by any stretch of the imagination. Carl Cohen is one of the people who are in favor of using animals for biomedical research. His argument is that animals cannot distinguish between right and wrong and that is why they cannot enjoy rights like human beings (Cohen, 1986).

I agree with Cohen that we can use animals for research purposes but our actions are only justified if they are of moral significance. In every other case using animals should not be allowed.