Salamander Surgery - Essay Example

Utilitarian philosophy upholds the principle of equal consideration of interests such that all things being equal utmost consideration should be given to that which would bring the most happiness and benefit and would cause less pain and suffering. This assumes that creatures of equal characteristics should be given equal consideration. Australian philosopher Professor Peter Singer in 1975 in a landmark article "All Animals are Equal" (475) argues that discriminating against animals as different from humans is nothing different from racism and sexism.

There is a lack of consideration for others who may be different in some aspects but are similar in some. He calls this "speciesism", originally quoting Dr. Richard Ryder, referring to the attitude of bias towards the interest of members of one's own species and against those members other species. Citing Jeremy Bentham, founder of the reforming utilitarian school of moral philosophy, Singer contends that the capacity for suffering and enjoyment forms the basis for equal consideration of humans and animals. . If racists violates the principle of equality by their prejudice against those of other races, and a sexist violates this same principle by favoring the interests of the members of the same sex, similarly speciesists, without considering that both animals and humans are capable of experiencing pain and suffering, allows the exploitation of other species for their own species' benefit.

However, the utilitarian perspective may also be used to justify the use of animals in research to some extent. This opinion considers the benefit of animal research in the scientific field over the cost imposed on animals. Ironically as opposed to anti-speciesist stance of Singer, it is the significant differences between humans and animals such as higher cognition and language ability that forms the basis of this justification. Critics of this variation of utilitarian view maintain that it is unjust to justify animal research with that argument as it supposes that animals are willing participants in research oblivious of the real costs of their involvement (Kimmel, 251).

The Rights ArgumentThe main argument against the use of animals in research as articulated by Tom Regan in his article "The Case for Animal Rights" (1985) is that all beings "equally" share an "inherent value" as living creatures. Recognition of this inherent value as individuals can lead to recognition of animals of their right to be treated with respect and not inflicted with any pain or anguish. Regan as a self confessed animal rights advocate calls for the following goals (481): The total abolition of the use of animals in science;The total dissolution of commercial animal agriculture;The total elimination of commercial and sport hunting and trapping;Regan attacks the