Contributors
- Dr Stuart Derbyshire
- scientist at the University of Pittsburgh, US, researching central mechanisms of pain
- Dr Mark Matfield
- medical research scientist
- Dr Tom Regan
- Professor of Philosophy and president of the Culture and Animals Foundation
- Dr Richard D. Ryder
- author of Painism: A Modern Morality
Editor
- Tony Gilland
- Institute of Ideas
'It is noticeable that very few antivivisection organizations now run effective campaigns trying to persuade their audience that animal experimentation is worthless or unnecessary. Instead, they focus on secondary issues, such as lack of openness, or the justification for using emotive species such as primates or dogs.'
Dr Mark Matfield
medical research scientist
'The psychological complexity of mammals plays an important role in arguing for their rights. Just as it is true in our case, so is true in theirs: they are the subjects of a life, their life, a life that is experientially better or worse for the one whose life it is. Each is a unique somebody, not a replaceable something.'
Dr Tom Regan
Professor of Philosophy and President of the Culture and Animals Foundation
'Suggestions that rights should be extended to animals are based on two misunderstandings, the first being a false equivalence between human and animal experience, and the second being a confused interpretation of rights. Behaviour is not a faithful reflection of experience and protection is a privilege not a right. The consequences of these misunderstandings are unfortunate to say the least.'
Dr Stuart Derbyshire
scientist at the University of Pittsburgh researching central mechanisms of pain
'The suffering of pain or distress is what matters morally. Furthermore, it makes no difference who suffers it. ... The suffering of pain and distress has become the central issue in ethics today. It has taken time ... for philosophers to realize that conditions such as justice, equality and liberty are all morally subordinate to the reduction of pain.'
Dr Richard D. Ryder
author of Painism: a Modern Morality