3B. Debate

Second, students need to know how to formulate a good argument. Students search for resources to find out how to formulate a good argument. This stimulates their process of critical thinking. They summarize their findings and make a short presentation to their peers in class.

Possible topics of discussion:

• Has medical science made sufficient progress as a result of animal experiments carried out in the past? Do the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages?

• There is a sudden global outbreak of flu that could possibly kill millions because there is no vaccine yet. Does this mean that more animal experiments should be carried out to enable the quick development of a vaccine?

• The living conditions of animals in factory farms are far less humane than the conditions of laboratory animals. Despite this, eating meat is permitted. Is eating meat more important than progress in medicine?

• Is a human being more important than an animal? Does it matter what kind of animal?

• If one really disapproves of animal testing, should one also not accept drugs or other treatments that have been developed by means of animal testing?

• An animal is not the same as a human. Can animal tests correctly predict what is to be expected in humans?

• Is it more desirable to use mice rather than pigs?

• Should everything be permitted in curing the most serious human diseases such as cancer?

• Do humans have the right to use or kill animals, particularly if we breed them for that purpose?

• Politicians should pay more attention to animal testing and increase funding for research on alternatives.

• Medical progress cannot be achieved without animal testing. Progress made in the past was only possible as a result of animal testing.

• Alternatives are still insufficiently used.

• We should respect nature and not genetically modify laboratory animals.

• If we don’t do it, it will surely be done somewhere else.

• Although we do our utmost to ensure animal welfare in this country, other countries may think very differently about animal welfare, reaping the rewards of ignoring ethical considerations.

• There are still so many drugs that are not available for everyone. We should do something about this before we develop new drugs without using animals.

• What gives human beings the right to use animals as pets, production animals or laboratory animals? For what purposes can or can't we use them?

• Do we want to keep everyone alive? Or should we accept the fact that not everyone dies at the same age and let nature take its course? And who has the right to make this decision?

• Would you want to use a drug with unknown side effects? Would you want your parents to use this medication?

• Mice are more appropriate for testing than dogs.

• Why have China and the US recently changed their policy on animal testing for cosmetic products?

• The Netherlands aims to phase out animal testing for safety of chemicals by 2025. They are an example for every country in the EU.

• In a referendum in Switzerland in February 2022 the population voted not to ban animal testing by a big majority (79.7%). Why?

Alternatively, students can create their own debate topics.