The Opposition to Experimentation

OVERVIEW

Animal experimentation has been controversial ever since large-scale vivisection arose. Those who oppose animal experimentation do so on either ethical or scientific grounds. The ethical objection to vivisection is that deliberately harming a sentient being for the alleged benefit of others is morally wrong, and that the rules governing human experimentation should be applied to research on animals.

The scientific case against animal experimentation is much less known. Most people believe that the vivisection debate is essentially the conflict between rational scientists and emotional animal rights activists. In fact, many scientists and doctors consider animal experimentation bad science and have established organizations to oppose it.