Ben Mepham
Abstract
Bioethics is a branch of philosophy with one metaphorical foot in abstruse theory (e.g., where it is concerned with the concept of animal rights and the nature of non-human animal consciousness), and another in the appropriate human relationships with animals which for long have been used as sources of food, means of traction and transportation, objects of scientific research, guards, guides, companions and, from prehistory, as beings hunted, worshipped and sacrificed. In addition, with a growing appreciation that animals often have unacknowledged cultures, skills, understanding and social interdependencies, the need for bioethical reassessment has become incontestable. Viewing issues from our almost-inevitably human perspectives, the chapter addresses a number of ethical dilemmas by use of the author’s Ethical Matrix, a conceptual tool adapted from theories employed effectively in human biomedical ethics. In this way, the mutuality of impacts of people, animals and the biosphere is viewed through an ethical prism. In sum, the aims of this chapter are to inform readers of the nature of bioethics and to equip them with the skills of addressing the ways we should appropriately respect the interests of non-human animals.
Reading recommendations
Bryant, J. A., & la Velle, L. B. (2018). Introduction to bioethics. John Wiley & Sons.
Macer, D. R. J. (2006). A cross-cultural introduction to bioethics. Tsukuba: Eubios Ethics Institute.
Mepham, B. (2005). Bioethics: an introduction for the biosciences. Oxford University Press.
Russow, L. M. (2002). Ethical implications of the human-animal bond in the laboratory. ILAR journal, 43(1), 33-37.
Web resources and Presentation recommendations
Animal ethics videos: link here
Activity
Using the Ethical Matrix developed in Chapter 4 (see below for a template), evaluate the impacts of animal experimentation in a forensic context based on your knowledge acquired in chapter 7 (criminal issues in HAI) and additional reading.
Ethical Matrix template developed by Ben Mepham