The Human Use of Animals: Case Studies in Ethical Choice / Edition 2

by Tom L. Beauchamp, F. Barbara Orlans, Rebecca Dresser, David B. Morton, John P. Gluck

Overview

This volume contains 16 case studies on the social controversies and moral issues surrounding the human use of animals. Topics include the use of animals in research, testing and education, as food, as companion animals and in religious rites.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195340198
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/21/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 6.48(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

PrefaceIntroduction1. Moral Issues about AnimalsFarm Animals2. Humane Housing for Hogs3. Veal Crates and Human Palates4. What is a Chicken Worth?Animals for Entertainment5. The Sport of Rooster Fighting6. Winky and Wanda at the Detroit Zoo7. Ringling Brother's Big CatsCompanion Animals8. Cosmetic Surgery for DogsReligious Use of Animals9. Animal Sacrifice as Religious RitualEndangered Species10. Bonobos: Humans' Closest Relatives Face ExtinctionBiomedical Research and Cosmetic Testing11. Head-Injury Experiments on Primates at the University of Pennsylvania12. What Does the Public Have a Right to Know? 13. Can There Be Cruelty-Free Cosmetic Testing?Behavioral Research14. Monkeys without Mothers15. The Experimetnal Study of Animal AggressionWildlife Research16. Killing a Vagrant Bird for a Museum CollectionEducational Use of Animals17. Should Frog Dissection Continue?Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Anji Wall, PhD (Saint Louis University)
Description: This comprehensive survey of ethical issues involving human-animal interactions presents and discusses 16 cases on a variety of topics including farming, entertainment, companionship, religious rituals, research, and education.
Purpose: The purpose of this book, according to the authors, is to "contribute to the more civil and polite discourse over the human use of animals." While much of the current debate over animal welfare is bitter and emotional, this book provides a more objective perspective on the issues. The authors achieve their objective of presenting the facts and discussing the ethical issues in each case without imposing a particular viewpoint on the reader.
Audience: This is a great resource for students and scholars in the area of healthcare ethics, as well as for individuals who are merely interested in ethical issues involving human-animal interactions. The writing is clear, organized, and understandable, even for those who are unfamiliar with the field of bioethics.
Features: Following the introduction, which discusses moral issues about animals, all of the chapters have a consistent, organized layout, which begins with a factual vignette about a current or historical situation followed by a discussion of the ethical issues related both to the vignette and to more general situations that are similar to the vignette. When appropriate, the discussions include statistics as well as national and international law. Further, many sections end in questions rather than statements, reinforcing the authors' purpose of contributing to discourse rather than providing answers. While the first edition was heavily focused on research issues, this edition has expanded the variety of issues to include endangered species and the use of animals in entertainment.
Assessment: This book presents cases on various human-animal interactions in a manner that fosters analysis and reflection by the reader. It is an essential read for anyone interested in either practical or theoretical analysis of cases involving animal welfare.

Doody's Review Service