So far as this argument is concerned nonhuman animals and…
“So far as this argument is concerned nonhuman animals and infants and retarded humans are in the same category; and if we use this argument to justify experiments on nonhuman animals we have to ask ourselves whether we are also prepared to allow experiments on human infants and retarded adults; and if we make a distinction between animals and these humans, on what basis can we do it, other than a bare-faced - and morally indefensible - preference for members of our own species?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
If we justify animal experiments, we must confront similar treatment of infants and disabled humans, exposing speciesist bias.
In simple terms: Ethical inconsistency arises from species bias.
Key Takeaway
Challenge speciesist assumptions in ethics.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
human rights
speciesism
morality
Mood
thoughtful
serious
provocative
Type
argument
philosophy
ethics
When to use this quote
- research ethics boards
- policy debates
- public discourse
Key Concepts
philosophical argument
bioethics
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should guide ethical research?
- Can speciesism ever be justified?
A Different Perspective
Balancing scientific progress with moral equality is complex.