Animal Quote by Peter Singer
“An animal experiment cannot be justifiable unless the experiment is so important that the use of a brain-damaged human would be justifiable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Animal Liberation, Peter Singer, 1975
Animal experiments are only justified when their importance outweighs the moral cost, especially involving severely impaired humans.
In simple terms: Only vital experiments justify harming sentient beings.
Key Takeaway
Weigh moral costs against scientific gains.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
science
human dignity
Mood
critical
thoughtful
ethical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- medical research
- policy making
- ethical review boards
- laboratory design
Key Concepts
Moral calculus
research justification
human-animal parity
Questions to Reflect On
- When is an experiment truly indispensable?
- Can we find non‑harmful alternatives?
A Different Perspective
Alternative methods may reduce need for harmful experiments.
![“There could conceivably be circumstances in which an experiment on an animal stands to reduce suffering so much that it would be permissible to carry it out even if it involved harm to the animal... [even if] the animal were a human being.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bf7/peter-singer-1001_animal_there-could-conceivably-be-circumstances_307252.jpg)
![“Even granting that we [humans] face greater harm than laboratory animals presently endure if ... research on these animals is stopped, the animal rights view will not be satisfied with anything less than total abolition.” quote by Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/46f/tom-regan-25402_abolition_even-granting-that-we-humans-face-greate_2136684.jpg)
![“Nineteen thousand children [are] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter that they're far away? I don't think it does make a morally relevant difference.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc1/peter-singer-1001_children_nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-eve_33961.jpg)
