What is the ethical argument against animals in scientific research?
As animal advocates, we oppose vivisection, or animal experimentation, on ethical grounds, believing that it is morally wrong to harm one species for the supposed benefit of another. We encourage others to extend the circle of compassion to include all living creatures-human and nonhuman alike. Extending the circle of compassion beyond humankind demands a break with traditional thought, which holds that animals exist for humans to use as they see fit. In a world that is largely anthropocentric (human centered), the idea of compassion, respect and justice for all animals is often disregarded as mere sentimentality. After all, people argue, where would we be if we could not use animals for food, clothing, and transportation-or as research tools? Animals are seen simply as resources-as little more than products to make our lives more convenient and comfortable. Animal advocates, on the other hand, view animals through a wider ethical prism-and it involves far more than sentimentality. We
