Animal experimentation and vivisection through a Buddhist ethics lens

Animal Rights

Slaughter of the Innocent

This is a paper on the article 'Slaughter of the Innocent'. There are two references used for this paper.

Ethical and animal rights issues raised by experimentation are important to many people today. It is interesting to look at the article 'Slaughter of the Innocent' and compare it with the principles of Buddhism.

Vivisection

Vivisection is the "term now used to apply to all types of experiments on living animals, whether or not cutting is done. Broadly, it is any form of animal experimentation, especially if considered to cause distress to the subject. The term also applies to experiments done with the administration of noxious substances, burns, electric or traumatic shocks, drawn-out deprivations of food and drink, and psychological tortures leading to mental imbalance (Ruesch)."

Many scientists torture thousands of animals every day under the pretense of medical research. They assert that through this torture, cures can be found for many diseases currently plaguing mankind today, such as cancer and AIDS.

Differences in Species

Experimentation on animals has been proven to be ineffective for human systems. Foods and drugs which are beneficial for animals may be harmful or deadly for humans. Conversely, substances which produce adverse reactions in animals may actually benefit humans. This is because animals and humans each have their own distinct anatomy and psychology.

Buddhism and Animal Rights

The ethics of animal rights supporters are compatible with those of Buddhist in terms of moral beliefs and an understanding of the entire circumstance. The nature of the callous individuals who torture animals cannot account for the true nature of all humans. When determining the true nature, or Buddha-nature of humans, it is important to examine all humankind, and not just one portion of the species.

The Buddhist parable concerning the Way of Purification illustrated that one entity can have good and bad qualities (unknown). Unfortunately, the bad quality will often receive most of the attention or will overtake the good quality, thus leaving a bad impression of the entire entity. This is true of those involved in vivisection. While many scientists and researchers do not agree with the practice, they are often associated with those who torture helpless animals and are thus perceived as inhuman.

Conclusion

There are thousands of animals needlessly tortured every day by researchers in the name of medical research. It is important to apply the concepts of Buddhism and understand that these individuals are separate entities, and do not reflect the true nature of mankind. It is hopeful that the good, who believe in animal rights, will be successful in one day eliminating animal experimentation.