Most [vivisectors are] naturalistic and Darwinian. Now here, surely, we come up against a very alarming fact. The very same people who will most contemptuously brush aside any consideration of animal suffering if it stands in the way of ‘research’ will also, in another context, most vehemently deny that there is any radical difference between man and the other animals.
The victory of vivisection marks a great advance in the triumph of ruthless, non-moral utilitarianism over the old world of ethical law; a triumph in which we, as well as animals, are already the victims and of which Dachau and Hiroshima mark the more recent achievements. In justifying cruelty to animals we put ourselves also on the animal level. We choose the jungle and must abide by our choice.
I wish they would remember that the charge to Peter was “Feed my sheep,”not “Try experiments on my rats,”or even “Teach my performing dogs new tricks.”
C.S. Lewis, 1898 – 1963, author and scholar. “Vivsection” excerpted in the second of two parts. With thanks to Rita Wing.
