Animal Experimentation - vivisection: Boon or bane?

[EricFu]

Do you think that animal vivisection is scientifically and ethically justified?

[luke]

if it's for learning and research, I personally think it's OK .. as long as the animal is not suffering from the experiment (i.e: already died) ... if people are arguing against killing animals for human benefits, I hope they'll reconsider about eating meats ..

[chiunlin]

Here's a site containing url for both pro and anti-vivisection
http://www.geocities.com/vegansite/vivdebate.htm

[luke]

owh vivisection is testing stuff on living animals .. I thought it's like dissecting animals .. sorry .. plz ignore my previous post ..

[oshmelvin]

owh vivisection is testing stuff on living animals .. I thought it's like dissecting animals .. sorry .. plz ignore my previous post ..

Luke,

There are two meanings to the word vivisection. Vivisection comes from the word vivus (in latin) which means living and secare (in latin) to cut. So the actual meaning of vivisection (the original usage of the word) is actually the practitce of dissecting living animals for experimental purposes. This means that dissecting is also involved in some vivisections (except for those drug testing vivisection) which means that you were right. The other meaning of the word vivisection could mean any type of animal experimentation whether it is the dissection of animals to study on a certain organ and develop a cure for an organ disease, a drug experimentation or any other kinds of animal experimentation.

[ElansarGelmir]

I can't say I'm aloof about this issue neither can I say i'm decided which side i'm on. Coz the pros and cons are almost equal and significant.

We need to test the latest drugs or treatments for human survival. The only way is to test it on animals, especially monkeys, which has almost the same features as us humans. If these tests are successful, many humans could be saved. In this case, if you developed a theory about a treatment or stuffs but you can't put it to test, isn't it just a waste? Perhaps your discovery can save the lives of the millions.

However, what if these animals form some kind of reaction towards the vivisection stuffs and then evolved (mutated is kind of the right word)? Houston, we've got a monster here!!!

That's why I can't really say that I'm for it or against it. But I am wondering. If animals are slaughtered to be eaten, horses are whipped for transportations, lions are trained for circus performances, then can we still talk about animal rights? If one really advocates animal rights, then there will be no more zoos, no more pets, no more circus, animals (especially snakes) are allowed into our houses anytime they like (coz we aren't supposed to kill them), and stuffs.

[EricFu]

Thank you. These posts really help me in doing my research. Anyway, on ethical grounds, do you guys think that vivisection is justifiable?

[oshmelvin]

Thank you. These posts really help me in doing my research. Anyway, on ethical grounds, do you guys think that vivisection is justifiable?

I think that vivisection is justifiable on ethical grounds. Well, all this works in a sense of the survival of the fittest. Since humans are the strongest and smartest creatures on Earth, we have to do whatever it takes to protect our own existance. Our existance comes first before all the other animals. So I think it is worth dissecting these animals and use them for tests to uncover new drugs that can help in combating a disease or at least let us know more about a certain organ which might lead on to artificial organs . This is important in a case to save lives of millions who are in need of a certain drug that has the potential to cure their life-threatening diseases. We can't just test it right away on humans because it might have unwanted side-effects. The only thing we could actually do is to test it on animals. This may be an act of cruelty to animals but it is an act of kindness towards our fellow humans. Somethings need to be sacrificed for the good of mankind. Besides, we don't kill all the animals through vivisection. As long as we control what we're doing and not do it excessively until it leads to mass extinction of a certain animal (for example the chimps) it will be alright. The purpose of doing vivisection is also important to highlight the use of animals in experiments. If vivisection is done for profit-making commercial purposes such as the make-up industry I strongly oppose it. We can survive without make up. But if it is done for the medicine field, I think it is the right act and the only act to test a certain drug. I guess all the animal lovers have to ask themselves a question..... is a life of a fellow human more important or is it a life of an animal? :D