Final answer:
The statement is false; Peter Singer advocates for animal rights and does not support giving less weight to the interests of animals compared to humans. He promotes a utilitarian approach that seeks to minimize suffering and maximize well-being, regardless of species. Ethical considerations in animal research, according to Singer's philosophy, demand strict humane treatment and ethical review.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement presented in the question is false. Australian philosopher Peter Singer is well-known for advocating for animal rights and does not believe in giving the interests of animals less weight than those of human beings. Instead, Singer argues for considering the interests of nonhuman animals and protecting their rights. He posits that our treatment of animals should be based on utilitarian principles, which seek to minimize suffering and maximize well-being, regardless of the species in question. This contrasts with the anthropocentric views held by theorists like William Baxter, who assigns intrinsic value only to persons.
Regarding the ethical considerations involved in animal research, Singer and like-minded animal rights activists would argue that there are ethical issues with non-consensual participation in research by animals. They would advocate for stringent precautions to ensure the most humane treatment possible, potentially including the need for alternatives to animal testing, improved living conditions for research animals, and rigorous ethical review processes to minimize suffering.