Everyone knows, and it cannot be denied, that medicine is experimented on animals before it can reach human hands. But is that really a virtuous action?
Mankind, being at the top of the food chain, is not exactly prey in the wild, considering our intelligence and how agile and swift our muscles can move. This makes us an almost perfect predator. I believe this is the reason we may not commit kind actions toward those inferior to us. We are somehow too selfish to think about an animal and how they might feel most of the time. We obviously value ourselves—sometimes more than we should. By saying this, I bring up the topic of testing and experimenting on animals.
The main reason I think we commit such actions is that animals cannot object. An animal—especially test subjects, which are often rabbits, rats, or guinea pigs—cannot outsmart a human, let alone hurt one. They are easier prey for us. Over time, this causes us to lose sympathy and pity toward them, as if not considering them as living beings. That should not be done. I strongly disagree with the opinion that they are nothing more than test subjects, denying them their status as living beings. Instead, what should be done is to utilize improved technology: artificial systems that simulate human organs, skin, nerves, or even veins can be used to test medicines. Deceased human bodies can also be used; before they decay, their needed parts can be preserved under controlled conditions in a clean environment and used for testing.
In conclusion, using an animal as a test subject is neither the best nor the most worthy option. We should not put a living being in danger for our own benefit when it is not actually necessary to harm them.