The Use of Non-Human Animals in Biomedical Research: Can Moral Theology Fill the Gap?

Abstract

Serious a moral consideration of animals has, in recent years, been led by secular philosophers, steeped in the post-Enlightenment tradition. While helpful, it lacks a theological and metaphysical narrative. In the case of biomedical research (BMR) subjects, moral theology can fill the void between consensus views of the public and heretofore language available for discourse on BMR. Collaboration with secularist and various religious traditions can work to offer significant contributions to animal teleology, acknowledging the God-given worth such animals possess.