Ethical Considerations About Chimp Research
I want to make it clear that I am not some kind of eco-radical PETA-type activist regarding issues like the one I'm about to mention. I do not oppose animal testing in general, and I readily recognize the important medical advances brought about by such testing.
Nonetheless, one of my favorite courses in college was my anthropology course in primatology. Even before that I had always loved primates from the mighty gorilla to the lowly lemur when I visited a zoo. For all the talk about "missing links," these are creatures within which man can catch a glimpse of himself, yet still recognize wild and untamed nature.
Perhaps because I have more than a passing understanding of primatology, or perhaps for purely aesthetic reasons, medical experimentation with chimpanzees has freaked me out for some time.
This post at TMV reminds me about that, and deserves some further consideration.
Nonetheless, one of my favorite courses in college was my anthropology course in primatology. Even before that I had always loved primates from the mighty gorilla to the lowly lemur when I visited a zoo. For all the talk about "missing links," these are creatures within which man can catch a glimpse of himself, yet still recognize wild and untamed nature.
Perhaps because I have more than a passing understanding of primatology, or perhaps for purely aesthetic reasons, medical experimentation with chimpanzees has freaked me out for some time.
This post at TMV reminds me about that, and deserves some further consideration.
Posted by Doug Williams on
Wednesday February 22, 2006 at 10:26pm
