R.G. Frey

About the author: R.G. Frey is a professor of philosophy at Bowling Green University in Ohio.

Because animal lives have value, ethical persons should question whether animal experimentation is justified. The comparative quality of life between animals and humans may help explain why humans feel less troubled about inflicting pain on animals. However, such assessments invite a logical argument that would sanction experimenting on some humans who have a lower quality of life than their peers. Finding the moral ground for justifying animal experimentation is not easy and is therefore often overlooked. Scientists and society as a whole need to confront this dilemma.

From teaching to research, the use we make of animals in human health care is vast. Although it is always possible that the animals themselves may benefit from this use (in...