Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Animal Testing For Medical Purposes - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1655 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Biology Essay Level High school Tags: Animal Testing Essay Did you like this example? Animal Testing For Medical Purposes Should Be Banned Animal testing for medical purposes, also known as animal experimentation, is conducted when inventing new medicine to cure people. In order to test the safety and the effectiveness of new drugs, animals that share similar genetic groups with humans are used as experimental objects to simulate the human environment. The world has been witnessing the debate of whether to ban animal testing since 1930s, when an animal-tested drug called the DEG caused more than 100 deaths of people . This essay will first argue against Animal Testing for medical purposes from moral basis. Then, it will deeply analyze the current situation of animal testing, distinguishing the achievements of animal testing from the apparent or hidden drawbacks, in order to persuade people that disadvantages overshadow advantages. After that, it will list alternatives to replace animal testing for medical purposes and prove their promising future developments. At last, this essay will summarize from all the arguments and give a conclusion. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Animal Testing For Medical Purposes" essay for you Create order Animal Testing: An immoral, cruel form of experiment Animal Testing is morally wrong. This is the basis of why it should be banned. Even where there are laws against cruelty towards animals , the brutality of animal treatment still crosses any justifiable line. Dr. Chaitanya Koduri, science policy advisor for PETA chronicles laboratories, wrote that rats and mice infested with worms and mites and the decayed bodies of newborn animals (were just) left lying on the groundsheep had holes drilled into their skulls and were injected with rabies Ratswere blinded after having glass tubes pushed behind their eyes to extract blood. Lauren Walker of Newsweek describes experiments like this: the monkeys were made to inhale a lethal amount of anthrax, (they had) difficulty breathing (they) were vomiting, losing control of their bowels. Many were just left to die . These are just a few of the countless examples of cruelty to animals. At least 115 million animals are tested on each year, large percentages of those without any anesthesia . Yet, many people stay ignorant of all those immoral experiments, simply because they are far away from them. On the contrary, the benefits of animal testing to humans are quite obvious: it is helpful to cure human diseases. The details of this statement will be analyzed in the following paragraphs, in which they will be argued against. At this point, it is no bother to assume this statement to be 100% trustworthy, and the following theory will explain why. According to Kohlberg, the theory of Stages of Moral Development, whether to ban animal testing lies in the contradiction between requirements in Social Contract and Individual Rights (stage 5) and requirements in Universal Ethical Principles (stage 6) . At stage 5, people tend to gain the mutual benefit for all in society. So, if animal testing for medical reasons is beneficial to the majority of mankind, it should be conducted regardless of any fixed law. That is the reason for many proponents of animal testing. However, at stage 6, people cease to just think of themselves, the society or any other concrete entities in the human world. Instead, their behavior depends upon universal ethical principles: justice, equality and conscience. From this level, although animal testing is probably beneficial, it is undoubtably cruel, because every form all it deliberately violates fundamental rights for animals as a form of life, and all lives are sacred. British poet Tomas Hardy has an excellent expression in the novel Jude the Obscure to clarify this phenomenon : Do not do an immoral thing for moral reasons. In other words, all kinds of animal testing should be banned, regardless of their different purposes; all kinds of animal testing shou ld be banned, whether they are beneficial to mankind or not. Animal Testing: An unreliable, wasteful and dangerous choice Supporters of animal testing have good reasons indeed. They argue that the medical and scientific advances earned by animal testing have allowed countless lives to be saved from the ravages of disease and injury, so that banning animal testing causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year because of the lack of effective medicine. They can list a lot of achievements, including HIV , GBM and other treatments. Nevertheless, they apparently ignore the following three factors: First, it has to be admitted that animal testing for medical reasons has played important roles in case of curing diseases, but the efficiency is questionable. In order to invent a valid new medicine, scientists usually conduct thousands of experiments, resulting in possibly one successful example. Cancer drugs, among all drugs, have the lowest success rate, for only 5% of all samples are proved effective after entering clinical trials. Other examples, such as psychiatry drugs (6% approved), heart drugs (7% valid) and neurology drugs (8% success), are in almost the same condition . The problem with this is not because that scientists havent done enough experiments, but because human genetic groups, though very similar to those animals that we test on, are different and will only be affected by the genetic determinants and physiological mechanisms that are unique to our own. A study published in Science found that a crucial protein that controls blood sugar in humans is missing in mice. Even if scientists made this gene to express in genetically altered mice, it behaved differently. The worse thing was that this injected gene had exactly the opposite effect from what should have in humans it caused loss of blood sugar control in mice. So, if scientists use animal models, they will not be confounded with relevant data. Instead, they will actually be diverted away from unraveling the causes behind human diseases and be misguided. Second, the cost of using animal testing to make medicine is incredible. The US government, for instance, spends as much as $14.5 billion per year on animal testing, with several projects continuously demanding for taxpayers money but resulting in nothing . Anthony Bellotti, founder and executive director of White Coat Waste Project, said: This large amount of money is paying for experiments in which small dogs are forced to run on treadmills until they have heart attacks at schools like Wayne State University, and to study the effects of crystal meth on monkeys at UCLA. How can we justify government waste like this? Moreover, there is little need to calculate the number of testing animalsthey are too many to be counted. By sacrificing all those lives and all that large amount of money, what benefits does the world have? The truth is, whether supporters of animal testing admit it or not, billions of dollars are spent every year on useless programs that are cruel and inhumane and have no scientific benefits. Third, even when drugs do pass animal testing, they can be deadly for humans. Blind faith in animal tests means that incidents like TGN 1412 trials happen. The drug showed no ill effects, after testing in mice, rabbits, rats and monkeys and even being given 500 times the dose for humans to those animals for four consecutive weeks. However, within minutes of being given to humans, some patients suffered from permanent organ damage. Horribly, one of them was spotted as swelling heads and was regarded as elephant man trial. This is not just a rare example. Alzheimers drugs and hepatitis drugs also reported similar accidents . If animal testing is aimed at saving human lives, it also puts people in greater danger. Animal Testing: Can be replaced and ultimately becomes unnecessary From technological, financial and social perspective, animal testing has been proved unreliable, wasteful and dangerous; from the moral basis, it is obligated to stop this inhumane behavior. The strongest argument for not banning animal testing is now reduced to this: It is morally wrong and has all those disadvantages, but it is indispensable, therefore cannot be cancelled. It is possibly true before, during the last century, when other technologies were not developed. Today, things are different. Artificially constructed organs can now model diseases and their cures, eliminating the need for animal testing. Donald Ingber, Doctor at Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, has constructed a human lung. Cells within it are susceptible to infections. When Ingbers team added bacteria to the airspace of the lung-on-a-chip, white blood cells swarmed to the bacteria. They have also tested the toxicity of a cancer drug known to fill patients lungs with fluid, a condition known as pulmonary edema. Ingbers lung-on-a-chip is one of many new attempts at replacing animal models with more effective analogs. Despite artificial organs, computer models can extensively simulate human inner environment. A research team at the Danish National Veterinary Institute has spent years feeding computer models with information about toxins. The so-called QSAR models (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships) help them study unknown substances for health hazards, and they can also in certain situations reduce the demand of animal testing. This model is also capable of comparing the chemical structure of the new substance with existing substances in the database. Though not very developed, methods related to cloud calculating and huge databases like this will become mature in the foreseeable future. With these methods, the number of diseases that need animal testing to cure is decliningultimately it may be unnecessary at all, and this is not an unreasonable guess. After all, science and technology are always developinga natural tendency. One day, animal testing would be old-fashioned and replaced To sum up, animal testing for medical reasons has a cruel history, a questionable and current situation and a doomed future. Maybe it was useful and helpful in the past; it is time for us to ban animal testing now. The process could be long and arduous, but there is hope. John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the US, told his people in his inaugural speech to have faith. Although he was talking about something else, the spirit within his words is the same: All this will not be finished in the first hundred year, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet, but let us begin.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights - 875 Words

I feel that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) does have a western bias. Many people look to US for guidance, but not many other nations copy our way of life. States can sign treaties, but they cannot be reassured that the other nation will keep its word. The US and the UN should maybe not be engaging in promoting western society, but they should be engaging in promoting the protection of human rights. The UN UDHR fought for minimal rights in 1948 by identifying three types of generations of rights. The first was political participation and civil liberties inspired by the Enlightenment. For example, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and the rights written in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. The second was social and economic rights of state commitments motivated by social dislocation of the Industrial Revolution. This can be found in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as well, along with all the articles of what stat es can and cannot do. The third and final was the protection of community identity and national solidarity. These rights can be found in the Bill of Rights, which protects the rights of citizens. All of the above rights are protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which reflects western interests, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which is supported in communist and other developing countries. Four currentShow MoreRelatedThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1728 Words   |  7 Pagespeople. Culture can impede progress and leave women, minorities and other sub-sects of a society without the basic human rights that they deserve. Clinging too close to culture can be dangerous. The Foundations of a Universal Declaration The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was drafted shortly after the United Nations was established in 1945. The aim of the Declaration was to ensure that an atrocity such as the mass killings of Jews and other minorities in Nazi Germany would never happenRead MoreThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights1131 Words   |  5 PagesHuman rights are moral principles that set out specific standards of human behavior, and are normally ensured as lawful rights in both national and global law. They are acknowledged to be inalienable, since anybody is characteristically qualified for it essentially on the grounds that they are individuals. Whatever our nationality, sex, shade, religion, dialect, or ethnic source is, we are all just as qualified for our rights without separation or discrimination. All human rights are resolute andRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pages The Universal Declaration of Human rights was adopted in the UN gene ral assembly by the 10th December 1948. This is the first time that the world recognized that everyone had the right to enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom from fear and want, and many other rights. International human rights come along way; before there was no rights. The idea of having rights that led to the development of international human rights takes time. There are benchmarks developments in internationalRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesA human right is an ethical choice and moral belief belonging to all humans regardless of traits, status, location, color, gender, or belief system. Making the connection to a universal law, the United Nations Rights High Commissioner explains these rights are, â€Å"guaranteed by law† and protected as â€Å"fundamental freedoms† (OHCHR, 2016). The Cambridge Dictionary defines privilege as â€Å"an advantage that only one person or group of people has† listing examples such as having a high social position or wealthRead MoreUniversal Declaration Of Human Rights1263 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a doctrine created to ensure a mutual standard of treatment amongst all humans, every person deserves an equal set of life standards. According to Article 18 of this 30 Article document, â€Å"everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teachingRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights892 Words   |  4 PagesHuman rigths is an essential component of a tolerant and individually satisfied society. They are created to defend people’s dignity, equality and liberty. However, for thousands of years people lived with no garanteed rights, until 1948, when United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But is the Universal Declaration of Human Rigths really universal to all states and humans living in them? I am going to argue if Human Rights should or should not be unically adapted to differentRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1417 Words   |  6 PagesImplemented in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) delineates the basic rights and freedoms entitled to all humans. The freedom of speech and the right to express beliefs freely is a universal human right protected by Article 19 of the UDHR. It declares that â€Å"everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression† and can â€Å"hold opinions without interference†. The regional agreements of Iran, China and Bahrain are in accordance with the Universal Declaration and are fully dedicatedRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1485 Words   |  6 Pages1003236982 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states â€Å"that human rights are held by all persons equally and universally forever† –hence, they are universal held. This is due to them being the exact same for all human beings anywhere in the world. One cannot acquire human rights because of where they come from, but because they are a member of the human race. Nobody can lose those human rights, nor can they be taken away for whatever the reason may be. Together, we have the right to express ourselvesRead MoreThe Declaration Of Universal Human Rights869 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral Assembly (UNGA) set forth a declaration of universal human rights. The goal was to set a common standard of rights based on â€Å"recognition of the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.† It was meant to become the perfect social contract but unfortunately was not upheld even by the signatory nations themselves. Many critics now looking b ack have cited the overreaching ideals as the downfall of the declaration but yet many have responded saying itRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights3323 Words   |  14 Pagesthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the concept of human rights has gradually become one of the most commonly accepted universal norms, referred to in United Nations resolutions, national constitutions and regional and international treaties. Even so, human rights violations occur on an almost daily basis in countries around the world. The term seems to be at the forefront of contemporary political discourses, with its meaning at most times remaining unclear. In theory, human rights

Monday, December 9, 2019

The Catcher in the Rye Argumentative free essay sample

The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most controversial texts taught in schools. It has been questioned as to its relevance for teenagers due to its mature subject matter and provocative narrator. Draw on evidence from resources used in class, class discussion, and reading the novel, and write an essay identifying and explaining at least three reasons why this book is relevant to teenagers and should be read in high school classrooms. Also, include a rebuttal paragraph or include in each body paragraph how you would address the opposing argument. Holden Caulfield, the Savior of Human Society Adolescence is the stage in which everybody has to go through; some people may find it pleasant, others may find it horrendous, but no one can escape it no matter what. In the Catcher in the Rye, the novel published in 1951 by JD Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield struggles through his rebellious, grievous teenage years. We will write a custom essay sample on The Catcher in the Rye Argumentative or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Soon after being published, the book acquired huge praises as well as criticism. Even though many critics attack the book viciously, it remains in teenagers’ mind because of its moral themes and lessons; therefore, everyone, especially high school students should widely study the novel. The first two problems Holden Caulfield is facing in the Catcher in the Rye that directly pertain to teenagers today are confusion and loneliness. As Holden tells his story, he often uses â€Å"confusing and lonesome† to express his mood. He is tired of all the phoniness surrounding him. Since teenagers in this society have experienced so many unpleasant troubles in their daily life, teenagers can absolutely relate to Holden. They attempt tirelessly to observe and figure out human behaviors, only to receive failures afterwards. Like Holden, some teenagers feel stressful because they have too much to care about but too little support from their friends and family. Toward the end of chapter five in the novel, Holden breaks all the glass in the garage when his brother Allie perished due to the overwhelming anger and anxiety that slowly build up in his mind. Allie’s death acts as the final blow that provokes Holden completely after all of his endurance. Like Holden, teenagers experience uncomfortable feelings when their beloved people disappear, and without any help from adults, teenagers will definitely commit reactions that they regret afterwards. In the end, distressed teenagers can always refer to the novel for guidance and sympathy in life. Furthermore, sexuality is also a relevant issue that almost every teenager encounters during his or her teenage years, including Holden Caulfield. In the Catcher in the Rye, Stradlater infuriates Holden when he reveals that he has sex with Jane, a childhood friend of Holden who usually plays checkers with him. To Holden, sex only emerges when true love appears, and based on his belief, he creates certain principles and makes himself follow these rules at all cost. When the elevator man Maurice, however, asks him if he is â€Å"interested in having a good time† (page 90), Holden suddenly breaks his promise and agrees to the dirty offer. Fortunately, his conscience and self-esteem help him fence off contradictions of his principles. Some adults may question how sexual content in Salinger’s novel can affect teenagers in real life, since society has minimized prostitution, and there is no more threat that can harm the teenagers. The answer is maybe teens will not come to sex directly, but overloaded desperation may push them toward the danger zone. Whether or not parents abandon their kids, leaving them to play with immoral friends will determine if the kids will grow up safely and maturely. Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood, from parents’ protection to self-protect; hence, it is the most vulnerable stage in human life. Peer pressure is one of the main forces that breaches through the weakly protective wall and convinces teenagers to violate social laws like watching censored videos. They may not want to, but they can never overcome such powerful force without the help of adults. Even though current society does not contain many prostitutes compared to the past, accessible internet is a frightful, uncontrollable substitution that parents and teenagers need not to ignore in order to overcome temptations. Last but not least, innocence is also one of the most significant themes that emphasize the relevance of the Catcher in the Rye to teenagers. Holden Caulfield, though develops such pessimistic attitude toward life, still possesses a natural fondness toward children. He shows us his true nature when he tells Phoebe, his beloved sister, his dream about him being a protector who â€Å"catches everybody if they start to go over the cliff† (page 173). In fact, Holden is trying to say that he would like to save them from running out of their innocent zone and experience the harshness and desperation he is going through. He wants to keep watching the kids playing and acting as they are kids: genuine and innocent. Nonetheless, he knows exactly that this dream will never come true, that time will pass and kids will grow up; it is just how the world operates. Throughout the novel, Holden Caulfield hardly ever feels happy, except when he watches Phoebe riding carousel in joy and delight. The peaceful scene utterly reminds him of his innocent childhood, when he has nothing to worry except having fun. Life back then was much simpler, and by watching his sister smiling, he feels sudden calm and relief. Additionally, because he loves Phoebe dearly and wants her to have a joyful life, he is happy when his sister is happy. To Holden and many other teenagers, only family love can warm up their cold heart and alleviate any pains they feel while struggling with life. Those who oppose to the Catcher in the Rye may advocate that even though Holden is kind and caring, he is so cynical that he once wishes to commit suicide at the end of chapter fourteen when Maurice, the elevator man, snatches his five dollars, and this dangerous reaction may influence teenagers to commit the same action. Holden Caulfield, as well as other distressed teenagers, only thinks of suicide as the ultimate exit that can free them from all the chaos in the world. They are tired of this tedious life that one day, they decide to give up everything. Therefore, it is important for adults to discuss any problems teenagers are facing and come up with solutions for these problems together, or else, the consequences are unbearable. In conclusion, the Catcher in the Rye accomplishes flawlessly its job depicting various feelings of a rebellious, turbulent teenager. Even though the book was written about fifty years ago, Holden Caulfield still has great connection to teenagers in present time. At first, Holden criticizes vigorously his life and everything related to it, but he still honestly aspires to seek and live a happy life. Reading the Catcher in the Rye and pondering the messages JD Salinger embedded are absolute need for not only teenagers but also adults and high school authorities to help teenagers overcome their struggles and obtain a better life.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Sinnners In The Hands Of An Angry God Essays - Grace In Christianity

Sinnners In The Hands Of An Angry God God In The Hands Of Angry Sinners Jonathan Edwards delivered his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, in Enfield Connecticut on July 8, 1741, the year following George Whitefield's preaching tour which helped inspire the Great Awakening. Weeping and emotional conviction among Edwards audiences came at a time of great spiritual thirst. While very foreign to mainstream American opinion today, this extraordinary message was fashioned for a people who were very conscious of how their lifestyles affected eternal consequences. By today's popular perspective, the doctrine of predestination probably discourages conversion because of the new-age independent attitude. However, in Puritan culture, through Jonathan Edwards sermon, Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God, fear might have powerfully affected people to look within them for the evidence of grace and then experience salvation. First, Edwards' sermon is filled with graphic images of the fury of divine wrath and the horror of the unmerciful punishment of the wicked in hell. If one were to continue in their sin, according to Edwards, not only would a person be tormented in the presence of holy angels, but Gods terribleness would be magnified upon his/her life and forced to suffer through Gods wrath for all eternity (74). Although it conveys the reek of brimstone, the sermon does not say that God will hurl man into everlasting fires--on the contrary, doom will come from Gods indifference... (Thompson 71). Edwards had little need to justify his scare tactics and theology. His consuming obligation was to preach it; to preach it fiercely, purposely, persuasively, and firmly. Williams 2 Next, an example of Gods wrath is seen through Edwards portrayal of great waters dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given... (72). Here was an old image redesigned to startle Enfield out of its smugness (Cady 4). Every New Englander was intimate with his communitys use of water power at the mill, if nowhere else. The dramatic peril of floods as well as the daily power of the falling waters were familiar and exciting. Edwards strikes blow after blow to the conscience-stricken hearts of his congregation. He draws graphic images from the Bible, all designed to warn sinners of their peril. He tells them that they are walking on slippery places with the danger of falling from their own weight (Sproul God In The Hands Of Angry Sinners). Edwards took the essence of his hearers own minds, raised it to the plane of his own intensity, and made his vision live in those memories. Equally important is the spirituality of Edwards and the Puritans being far more complex than Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God portrays. The fear in the sermon is about having a holy respect for God's power. Because of the18th century popular culture, unconverted audience members probably remained more God-conscious in their daily living than most people of the past few centuries. Edwards understood the nature of God's holiness. He perceived that unholy men have much to fear from such a God (Cady The Artistry of Jonathan Edwards). He did not evangelize ...out of a sadistic delight in frightening people, but out of compassion. He loved his congregation enough to warn them of the dreadful consequences of facing the wrath of God (Sproul God In The Hands Of Angry Sinners). He was not concerned with laying a guilt trip on his people but with awakening them to the jeopardy they faced if they remained unchanged. Finally, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is not directly concerned to create Hell imaginatively. Hell is in its picture, but only at the surface. The focus is on the predicament of the sinner, how dreadfully he dangles just before he plunges to eternal agony, while he has time to Williams 3 repent and be saved. The purpose of this sermon was to motivate those unconverted members of Edwards audience to repent from unbelief and sin, become baptized, and experience a realization of God's grace, as imparted by His Spirit. You have an extraordinary opportunity (to be saved) Therefore, let everyone that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come (Edwards 75). The horrific slipperiness and fearful suspension above the flaming fire described throughout is a message intended for those individuals who know the truth, yet have remained wicked and unbelieving. Edwards believed that God has less patience for