Blog 10-Absolute vs Relative Dismissal

In the first chapter of, Animals and Why They Matter, Midgley discusses the issues of animals and the way they are viewed and treated in today's society. A section of the reading that stood out to me was the section discussing the differences between absolute and relative dismissal. Absolute dismissal is the mindset that has no regard or emotions towards animals. Humans with this view don't care at all for animals and think of them more like machines than actual living things. Relative dismissal is the mindset that recognizes animals and that they are a part of nature. However, they are not as important as humans are. They are are relatively last on the list of importance in nature.

Midgley discusses how no one can really possess the absolute dismissal idea because everyone feels something when they see an animal being slaughtered or killed. The only times when this kind of mindset is put into practice is when arguing practical purposes of animals such as animal experimentation. Midgley points this out when professors are asked about whether the killing of animals for experimentation is ethical. The professors responses were, "why should they matter?"

As a Biology major, I have and will continue to perform experiments on animals for the purpose of increasing my knowledge about concepts of their anatomy and physiology. However, I can assure that the animals used are treated in a respectful manner and are euthanized in a humane matter. This may not justify the uses of animals in experimentation, but unless new methods are developed, this is the only way to learn. I am open to new methods such as interactive 3D models or something like that but this will never be the same to actual practice. But, until then, animal experimentation will continue for the time being in my career.