Ross Michael W
Soc Sci Med. 1981;15F:51-60.
It has been demonstrated over the last decade that some higher animals can learn sign language and communicate with humans. This finding radically alters some earlier conceptions of animals as being non-sentient, and forces a re-evaluation of the use of higher animals in research. The ethics of using animals are examined in this paper in relation to postulated levels of consciousness, and in relation to experimental design and experimental goals. In particular, an attempt is made to classify experimental situations with regard to potential psychological trauma, and to examine in detail the ethics of using higher animals in psychological research and situations in which such use can be justified. Analysis concentrates on the scientific ramifications of ethical use of animals, and concludes that in the majority of cases, ethical treatment and scientific approach are synonymous.
在过去十年中已经证明，一些高等动物能够学习手语并与人类交流。这一发现从根本上改变了一些早期关于动物没有感知能力的观念，并促使人们重新评估在研究中使用高等动物的情况。本文从假定的意识水平以及实验设计和实验目标的角度，审视了使用动物的伦理问题。特别是，试图根据潜在的心理创伤对实验情况进行分类，并详细研究在心理学研究中使用高等动物的伦理问题以及这种使用合理的情况。分析集中在动物伦理使用的科学影响上，并得出结论：在大多数情况下，伦理对待和科学方法是同义词。
