Science and technology have enriched human life, but this progress has come at the expense of nature and animals. In particular, animal testing has been considered a necessary step, but it is controversial due to biological differences and unethical issues. Nowadays, robots, AI simulations, and other technologies that replace animals are emerging, calling for a new research paradigm. It’s time to rethink the sacrificial methods of the past and find ways to reconcile respect for life with progress.
Introduction
Humanity has evolved continuously throughout the ages. In addition to biological evolution, the tools and technologies we use have developed remarkably. These advances have allowed us to accomplish things that were once unimaginable. For example, smallpox, a disease that claimed countless lives, has been completely eradicated from the planet thanks to a vaccine developed by E. Jenner, and satellites have extended the world’s communication network beyond our planet. Advances in science and technology have made human life better, and there’s no disputing how much these changes have increased human convenience.
However, advances in science and technology are not just about convenience. Behind every advancement, there are sacrifices, large and small, and we need to ask ourselves if we fully understand the value of these sacrifices. The sacrifice of the natural environment and animals in particular is something we tend to overlook. As technology advances, it brings us more convenience, but at the same time, we are losing the precious things around us. Progress always comes at a price, just as we are losing our analog sensibilities as we rapidly digitize. Among these sacrifices, it’s worth noting the animals that have been sacrificed in laboratories for the advancement of science and technology.
Animal sacrifice and science and technology
The sacrifices made by animals in the development of science have been considered an inevitable consequence for humans. Animal testing in drug discovery and space exploration is often justified as a choice to protect human life and safety, but how much do we think about the suffering and sacrifice that animals have had to endure in the process? For example, in the early stages of drug discovery, lab rats and monkeys are used in place of humans without any choice. Also, Leica, the first dog sent into space for space exploration, died shortly after launch due to high heat and pressure during an uncertain launch mission. Behind every advancement in science and technology, there is always an unseen sacrifice, often made by animals.
The opportunity to reflect on these sacrifices is often presented in movies and literature. For example, the Planet of the Apes franchise is a fictionalized world in which the roles of humans and animals are reversed, which serves as a cautionary tale about the arrogance we unknowingly commit. In Planet of the Apes, apes perform cruel experiments on humans and treat them with disdain and contempt. These scenes are a warning against the “anthropocentric” mindset that humans often use. On what basis do we consider ourselves to be more special than animals? The dark side of the sacrifices behind the advances that science brings, and the fundamental question of whether the progress we seek is justified.
Limitations and problems with animal testing
There’s no denying that animal testing has contributed greatly to scientific progress. However, they haven’t always provided reliable results for humans. Animals and humans are biologically different, so what’s tested on animals doesn’t necessarily apply to humans. In fact, studies have shown that only about 1.16% of diseases are shared between animals and humans. A prime example is the drug thalidomide, which was developed to relieve morning sickness in pregnant women. It was marketed as a “miracle drug” because it showed no adverse effects in various animal studies, but it led to the tragic birth of nearly 10,000 deformed babies worldwide. This highlights not only the biological differences between animals and humans, but also how differences in experimental environments can have a profound impact. Laboratory animals live in sterilized environments and have limited contact with various microbes and germs. Humans, on the other hand, coexist with a large number of microorganisms and develop an immune system. These environmental differences can cause experimental results to manifest in different ways in humans.
Therefore, there are limitations to viewing animal testing as simply a “necessary process” for scientific advancement. The sacrifice of animals contributes to scientific progress, but we need to consider whether it is justified when their lives and rights are ignored in favor of human needs.
The need for alternative technologies and a new paradigm
In modern times, scientists and researchers are working on various technologies to reduce or replace animal testing. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and robotics, it is now possible to use robots that mimic biological responses rather than real living things in space experiments, or artificially created human tissue constructs for drug testing. This is an alternative to the unethical nature of animal testing and can be a safe and effective research method for both humans and animals. Furthermore, advances in data analytics and computer simulation are opening up the possibility of conducting many studies without animal testing. These alternative technologies offer a new paradigm in which scientific progress and respect for life can coexist.
These changes herald a new phase in the development of science and technology. The way is opening up to explore and advance knowledge in a more ethical way, without being tied to the methods of the past. Finding ways for humanity to progress while respecting nature and living beings is a critical challenge, and more attention and resources should be invested in developing alternative technologies that do not rely on animal testing.
Conclusion
From the caveman era to the current age of science and technology, human progress has been achieved through countless sacrifices, but we now recognize the importance of metaphysical values such as human rights and welfare, animal rights, and environmental protection. If the sacrifices of the past have led us to where we are today, it’s time to reduce those sacrifices and find a path to sustainable development. In particular, it is important to recognize that too many lives are being sacrificed innocently. It’s time to move away from the animal testing-centered paradigm of the past and step into a new paradigm where the dignity of life and scientific progress coexist.
