Abstract
The three R’s as defined by Russell and Burch have come to occupy a central position in animal research. A careful examination of the original definitions and aims shows these to be a product of their time, no longer in line with contemporary perspectives. A particular point of interest is the reliance on the concept of “humanity.” This is contrasted with more recent ideas about “speciesism” and the moral status of nonhuman animals. As a case study, I focus on the use of nonhuman primates in basic neuroscience research; the historical analysis illustrates how the changing context implies a changing perspective on the ethical validity of research. Yet, the three R’s fail as guidelines to translate the changes in context to commensurate changes in conduct.
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Lauwereyns, J. (2018). Concept Fatigue with the Three R’s. In: Rethinking the Three R's in Animal Research. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89300-6_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89300-6_2
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