The concept of integrity. Its significance for the ethical discussion on biotechnology and animals

Vorstenbosch, J. M. G.

doi:10.1016/0301-6226(93)90144-7

Cited by 45 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In literature, integrity is referred to as intrinsic value, autonomy, or naturality of animals (Vorstenbosch, 1993). This principle, however, is not always clearly defined.…”

Section: The Principle Of Respect For the Integrity Of Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ethical evaluation of animal biotechnology: the case of using clones in dairy cattle breeding

1995

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77ns paper presents an approach for ethical evaluation of biotechnology, which is illustrated by cloning in dairy cattle breeding. The approach for ethical decision-making that was followed, the so-called network model, started with determining fundamental moral principles that together constitute a framework for the detection of ethical issues in a given situation. In terms of human ethics, four fundamental principles have been defined: beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy. In the context of animal biotechnology, the same four fundamental moral principles as in humans are considered, except that autonomy is replaced by respect for the integrity of the animal. Based on a Dutch advisory committee concerning animal biotechnology, two additional principles were considered: irreversibility and veriflability. For each individual case, moral decision-making means balancing of moral intuitions, moral principles and morally relevant facts. The final outcome on moral acceptability of an action, therefore, will differ among people. The latter is demonstrated using three types of people (the ruler, the steward and the partner/participant). For each type of person, the fundamental attitude toward animals and nature is defined and a possible decision on the application of cloning in dairy cattle breeding is given. The authors' opinion, however, is that the benefits of cloning are relatively small, especially in the long term, whereas the moral drawbacks of cloning are considerable. The authors conclude that other ways of furthering animal husbandry should have priority.

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“…In literature, integrity is referred to as intrinsic value, autonomy, or naturality of animals (Vorstenbosch, 1993). This principle, however, is not always clearly defined.…”

Section: The Principle Of Respect For the Integrity Of Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ethical evaluation of animal biotechnology: the case of using clones in dairy cattle breeding

1995

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“…To a large extent, violations of animal integrity will therefore also violate the welfare of the animal, if animal welfare is understood to also include mental experiences. 31 Other practices can also be seen as a violation of integrity, such as breeding animals that fit production systems better, rather than developing housing systems that satisfy the behavioral needs of the animals. 61 Insertion of genes into pigs that enable them to mimic human diseases such as Alzheimer's disease 62 is another example.…”

Section: The Concept Of Integrity -A Two Dimensional Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other important notions brought into play in trying to elucidate the wider discussion of integrity include telos 32 and a notion of inherent worth. 34,37 The literature in the field thus often ends up evaluating whether the close link to biological and genetic processes that most definitions rely on makes sense (see also examples 22,31,32 ). The non-empirical character of integrity is often discussed in relation to the applied science of animal behavior.…”

Section: The Concept Of Integrity -A Two Dimensional Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5,22,23 Furthermore, it neither reflects legal documents nor public concerns about biotechnology, where an issue such as integrity plays a larger role than is often expressed in scientifically-based debates on risks. 5,[24][25][26][27][28][29] The concept of integrity also plays a small yet increasingly persistent role in academic ethical discussions of animal biotechnology (see examples 22,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] ). This paper examines the notion of integrity (definition below), and discusses how and why the concept could be included in AEC assessments, drawing on different understandings of integrity found in public surveys and academic ethical sources.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A case for integrity: gains from including more than animal welfare in animal ethics committee deliberations

2013

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From January 2013, a new EU Directive 63/2010/EU requires that research using animals must undergo a harm-benefit analysis, which takes ethical considerations into account (Art. 38 (2) d) -a so-called 'project authorization ' (Art. 36). A competent authority in each member state has to ensure that no project is carried out without such a project validation process, but often delegates the actual assessment to an animal ethics committee (AEC) or its equivalent. The core task of the AEC is to formulate a justifiable balance between the animals' suffering caused by research and the potential human benefit. AECs traditionally focus on animal welfare issues, but according to the new directive other public concerns must also be taken into account. Taking the new EU Directive as a point of departure, the central aim of this paper is to discuss the evaluation process in relation to animal welfare and animal ethics through the concept of animal integrity. A further aim is to elaborate on possible improvements to project evaluation by considering animal integrity. We argue that concepts like animal integrity are often left out of project authorization processes within AECs, because animal ethics is often interpreted narrowly to include only certain aspects of animal welfare. Firstly, we describe the task of an AEC and discuss what has typically been regarded as ethically relevant in the assessment process. Secondly, we categorize four notions of integrity found in the literature to show the complexity of the concept and furthermore to indicate its strengths. Thirdly, we discuss how certain interpretations of integrity can be included in AEC assessments to encapsulate wider ethical concerns and, perhaps even increase the democratic legitimacy of AECs.

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“…The loss of life itself is conceived as the ultimate harm to the animalÕs integrity, i.e., to its ''completeness.'' Integrity gives notion to our own moral position, purposes, and perspectives with regard to animals (Vorstenbosch, 1993). Integrity is not strictly a describing term, but it rather refers to the way we think an animal has to be (Brom, 1997).…”

Section: The Concept Of Integritymentioning

confidence: 99%

A plea to implement robustness into a breeding goal: poultry as an example

Star

Ellen

Uitdehaag

et al. 2007

J Agric Environ Ethics

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ABSTRACT. The combination of breeding for increased production and the intensification of housing conditions have resulted in increased occurrence of behavioral, physiological, and immunological disorders. These disorders affect health and welfare of production animals negatively. For future livestock systems, it is important to consider how to manage and breed production animals. In this paper, we will focus on selective breeding of laying hens. Selective breeding should not only be defined in terms of production, but should also include traits related to animal health and welfare. For this we like to introduce the concept of robustness. The concept of robustness includes individual traits of an animal that are relevant for health and welfare. Improving robustness by selective breeding will increase (or restore) the ability of animals to interact successfully with the environment and thereby to make them more able to adapt to an appropriate husbandry system. Application of robustness into a breeding goal will result in animals with improved health and welfare without affecting their integrity. Therefore, in order to be ethically acceptable, selective breeding in animal production should accept robustness as a breeding goal.

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The concept of integrity. Its significance for the ethical discussion on biotechnology and animals

Cited by 45 publications

References 2 publications

An ethical evaluation of animal biotechnology: the case of using clones in dairy cattle breeding

An ethical evaluation of animal biotechnology: the case of using clones in dairy cattle breeding

A case for integrity: gains from including more than animal welfare in animal ethics committee deliberations

A plea to implement robustness into a breeding goal: poultry as an example

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