Recognition Animal Rights by Society - Essay Example

But in the context of pain suffered by animals, Gallistel (1989) has advocated the unrestricted use of animals for research purposes, especially in the study of the nervous system. He points out that studies on the nervous system may involve the destruction or stimulation of a part of the system to examine the ramifications of the use of certain drugs and could cause pain and temporary distress to the animals used. He argues that restricting research on animals would restrict the progress in human understanding of the nervous system. It would interfere with the process of providing a moral and scientific basis for the amassing of knowledge that produces tangible benefits for the nervous ailments of humans and benefits in treatment. He contends that the suffering of a few animals cannot be accorded greater importance than the benefits that are provided to the human race. It is also argued that since animals do not possess a sense of moral values and reason, they are inferior beings as compared to humans, and therefore, their interests must be subordinated to that of human beings.

In a similar vein, H Tristam Englehardt Jr believes that “morality is a human construct and that secular moral authority is grounded in consent…[and he]…..claims that animals have "rights" granted them by humans (since only humans are "ends in themselves"), but the "rights" so granted are to be used for human welfare, including the "right" to be hunted, skinned, eaten, used for entertainment, etc” (Haack, 2007). Hence, Gallistel and Englehardt are of the view that animals may have rights, but those rights are to be subordinated to those of humans and the animals can only enjoy rights to the extent that humans permit them to have those rights. Therefore, even in instances where they suffer pain, this pain is justified on the basis that their rights are inferior to those of human beings who will benefit from the fruits of medical research experiments conducted on animals.

Bentham (2002) however offers the view that animal pain is as real as human pain and the ability to suffer must be the determinant of how we treat other beings. He argues that using the criterion of reason and ability to make moral decisions to determine the less equal treatment to animals would mean that beings like babies and the disabled would also be treated badly. The manner in which they are treated should not be dependent upon whether they can reason or talk, but whether they suffer.

In her poem “The Fish” Elizabeth Bishop writes eloquently about the veteran fish she catches, which has five fishing hooks embedded in its “aching jaw”. While her initial reaction to the fish is one of slight distaste, the sight of those hooks stirs her admiration and sympathy. The veteran fish has to live with the pain of those hooks permanently embedded into its jaw, because of the greed of men to catch them. The reality of the suffering of the animal is what prompts her to let the fish go rather than allow it to die because she is loath to cause more suffering to the fish as she watches its gills fighting for breath.

Gendin (1989) questions the value of scientific research on the basis that different species may react differently for different doses, likewise, animals cannot describe their experiences, nor can they provide information on symptoms such as giddiness or nausea. Animals undoubtedly suffer during medical research experiments; for example, Segliman (1974) has written about dogs involved in animal research experiments that were subjected to repeated shocks and became very depressed as a result, resulting in both physical and mental helplessness of the animal.

A report on the use of monkeys in medical research concludes that “in some cases, there is a valid scientific argument for the use of monkeys in medical research.” (Weatherall, 2007). The argument that pain is caused to animals is a valid one, since animals may also have rights that cannot be ignored simply on the basis that they are not moral creatures and cannot reason.