Historical development and ethical considerations of vivisectionist and antivivisectionist movement

Authors

  • Bruno Atalić

Keywords:

vivisectionism, antivivisectionism, bioethics, utilitarianism, experimentalism

Abstract

This review presents historical development and ethical considerations of vivisectionist and

antivivisectionist movement. In this respect it shows that both movements were not just

characteristic for the past one hundred years, but that they were present since the beginning

of medical development. It, thus, re-evaluates the accepted notions of the earlier authors. On

this track it suggests that neither movement was victorious in the end, as it could be seen from

the current regulations of animal experiments. Finally, it puts both movements into a wider

context by examining the connection between antivivisectionism and utilitarianism on the

one hand, and vivisectionism and experimentalism on the other hand.

Published

2012-11-15