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Use Cases
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Resources
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Pricing
History of Animal Bioethics
Animals as Tools
Alcmaeon of Croton
0500 BC
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Brain not heart central organ of sense. Cut nerve behind eye to understand optic nerve function. Dissect humans.
Hippocrates
0460 BC - 0370 BC
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Observation and study of human body. Rational explanation for disease. Used chick eggs to study embryology.
Aristotle
0384 BC - 0322 BC
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Man rational - head of life. Can use animals. Recognised similarities between physiology in man and animals
Galen of Pergamum
129 - 199
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First record of vivisection. Study of anatomy. Animals don't have a soul or mind so can't feel pain. Screaming mechanical response.
St Thomas Aquinas
1225 - 1274
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Only humans are rational, animals exist for human needs and have no moral status or soul.
William Harvey
1578 - 1657
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Demonstrated blood circulation using vivisection. Public demonstrations. Caused a significant increase in vivisection.
Rene Descartes
1596 - 1650
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Humanist philosophy. Soul distinguishes humans from all other animals. 'I think, therefore I am'. Beast machine - responses to pain are mechanical.
Francois Magendie
1783 - 1855
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Public lectures and demonstrations involving vivisection.
Historical Periods
Romans
27 BC - 0476
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Gladiators, animal slaughter, cruelty, entertainment.
Mediaeval Times
480 - 1350
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Animals not rational but responsible for actions. People more worried about survival. Animals shared homes with people.
Renaissance
1350 - 1600
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Renewed interest in science an philosophy.
Animals have Value
Cicero
0106 BC - 0043 BC
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Roman philosopher, compassion for animals
Ovid and Virgil
0070 BC
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Roman poets, compassion for animals
Plutarch and Seneca
0004 BC - 120
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Roman vegetarians
St Francis of Assisi
1181 - 1226
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Patron saint of animals
Edmund O'Meara
1614 - 1681
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Criticism of vivisection - agony suffered by animals distorts results. Rejected Harvey in favour of earlier theories of Galen. 'The miserable torture of vivisection surely places the body in an unnatural state'.
Samuel Johnson
1709 - 1784
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Writer. Play 'The Idler'. Opposed to vivisection. Knowledge seldom obtained, and knowledge of physiology gained at expense of humanity.
Jeremy Bentham
1748 - 1832
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'The question is not, Can they reason? nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?' Founding father of modern utilitarianism.
RSPCA
1840
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SPCA gains royal patronage from Queen Victoria. Objects to vivisection in 1850s and Queen Victoria also objects in 1874.
The Home for Lost and Starving Dogs
1861
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Now Battersea Dog's Home
Deontology
Immanuel Kant
1724 - 1804
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Human autonomy. Actions are morally right in virtue of their motives - duty not inclination. The right actions are those that can be applied universally. Basis of animal rights.
Consequentialism
Robert Boyle
1627 - 1691
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Concern over welfare of animals. Convinced animal cost justified by benefits.
Robert Hooke
1635 - 1703
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Concern over animal welfare - experimentation justified by benefits.
Marshall Hall
1790 - 1857
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Five principles to govern animal experimentation. Eventually became basis of 1876 Cruelty Against Animals Bill.
Peter Singer
1946
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Bentham's modern heir. Utilitarian. The Animal Liberation Movement. Speciesism.
Legal
Agitation for Anti-Cruelty Laws
1790
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Butcher cut off sheep feet and made them run through town. They were not his sheep.
Martin's Act
1822
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Richard Martin (1754-1834) Offence to wantonly abuse animals that are the property of someone else. Can still abuse your own.
Jospeh Pease
1835
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1772 - 1846. 'Others property' clause removed from Martin's Act.
Cruelty to Animals Act
1876
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Protection of Animals Act
1911
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Performing Animals (Regulation) Act
1925
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Pet Animals Act
1951
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Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
1966
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Zoo Licensing Act
1981
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Animal Health and Welfare Act
1984
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Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
1986
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The Code of Practice for the Housing and Care
1989
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of Animals in Scientific Procedures 1989
Welfare of Animals at Slaughter
1991
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Animal Health Act
2002
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Animal Welfare Act
2006
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Animal Rights
Frances Power-Cobbe
1822 - 1904
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Founded Victoria Street Society for the Protection of Animals from Vivisection. 1898 - British Union for Abolition of Vivisection. Still exists today.
SPCA
1824
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Founded by Richard Martin (1754-1834). Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Tom Regan
1938
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Extended Kant's theory of dignity to animal's.