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Ethical Reservations About Psychological Research with Animals

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Abstract

Ethical issues relating to painful experimentation on animals have received little attention in the literature. It is contended that this is because of the widespread acceptance of nonscientific distinctions between human beings and animals, and a consequent failure to consider the proposition that sentient creatures have interests deserving of consideration. The role of institutional factors, particularly language, in creating and maintaining the traditional notion of animals is discussed. An alternative ethical approach which would not permit painful experimentation on animals is proposed and its implications briefly examined.

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Bowd, A.D. Ethical Reservations About Psychological Research with Animals. Psychol Rec 30, 201–210 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394670

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