Ethical dilemma: Whose life is more valuable? - Rebecca L. Walker
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
Smallpox remains a threat from existing virus samples, sparking ethical debates on animal testing for human protection against the disease. Philosophical discussions on moral status in animal testing explore varying views on the value of life, considering factors like rationality, suffering, and social capacities in determining moral consideration.
Insights
- Existing virus samples of smallpox pose a potential threat for weaponization, raising concerns about the efficacy of older vaccines and untested antiviral drugs against this eradicated disease.
- The use of biological relatives of humans in lab testing for smallpox treatments funded by the US government sparks ethical debates on the moral status of animals, emphasizing differing perspectives on the value of life based on factors like rationality, suffering, and social capacities.
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Recent questions
What is smallpox?
Smallpox is a deadly disease eradicated for over 40 years, but still poses a threat due to existing virus samples that could be weaponized.
How does the US government support smallpox research?
The US government funds research to enhance smallpox treatments and vaccines, using biological relatives of humans in labs for testing.
What are the ethical concerns in smallpox research?
Ethical questions arise about harming animals for human protection in smallpox research, sparking debates on moral status and ethical considerations in animal testing.
What factors determine moral consideration for animals?
Factors like rationality, suffering, and social capacities are considered in determining moral consideration for animals like monkeys in smallpox research.
Why are there concerns about older smallpox vaccines?
Concerns exist about the side effects of older vaccines and untested modern antiviral drugs in the context of smallpox research.
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Summary
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Smallpox Threat, Ethical Dilemmas in Animal Testing
- Smallpox, a deadly disease eradicated for over 40 years, still poses a threat due to existing virus samples that could be weaponized, with concerns about the side effects of older vaccines and untested modern antiviral drugs.
- The US government funds research to enhance smallpox treatments and vaccines, using biological relatives of humans in labs for testing, raising ethical questions about harming animals for human protection.
- Philosophical debates on moral status and ethical considerations in animal testing highlight varying views on the value of life, with discussions on binary versus degrees of moral status, including factors like rationality, suffering, and social capacities in determining moral consideration for animals like monkeys.
