Brute Science: Dilemmas of Animal Experimentation (Philosophical Issues in Science)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent philosophical review of this complex topic
Review: LaFollette and Shanks have shed much light on the heated animal research controversy. They argue that animal experimentation may occasional prove useful in biomedical research, but is not necessary for medical progress. In general, it is actually less helpful than other possible research approaches. Borrowing from evolutionary theory, they demonstrate that the more reliable the animal model, the more problematic it becomes ethically to experiment on it. This book challenges contemporary researchers to address the moral dilemma posed or adopt other means of investigating biomedical issues

Rating:
Summary: challenging discussion of the science and ethics of research
Review: This is an excellent book. The author's argue that the typical assumptions that animal researchers use to defend the importance and indispensibility of animal research for improving human health are inconsistent with evolutionary theory and basic, well-known facts of comparative physiology. In short, animal research seems to be founded on a myriad of false and unjustified scientific assumptions.

The authors also show that apologists for animal research have seriously overstated (and misrepresented) the historical record of medical advancement that has come about because of animal research.

These facts alone (apart from any views about the "moral status" of animals) yield the conclusion that animal research is, at least, of highly dubious merit.

I have been trying to find any critical reviews or reply pieces that dispute the scientific arguments in this book, but, unfortunately, I haven't found any yet. One would think that such a powerful book would generate critical responses. One wonders why there aren't any...