I think the evidence that weighs on the issue is whether there is a gradient of consciousness.
The evidence about brain structure similarities would indicate that it doesn’t go from no one home to someone home. There’s a continuum of how much someone is home.
If you care about human suffering, it’s incoherent to not care about cow suffering, if the evidence supports my view of consciousness.
I believe the evidence of brain function and looking at what people mean by consciousness indicates a gradient in most if not all of the senses of “consciousness”, and certainly capacity to suffer. Humans are merely more eloquent about describing and reasoning about suffering.
I don’t think this view demands that we care equally about humans and animals. Simpler brains are farther down that gradient of capacity to suffer and enjoy.
If you care about human suffering, it’s incoherent to not care about cow suffering, if the evidence supports my view of consciousness.
Why would this follow from “degree of consciousness” being a continuum? This seems like an unjustified leap. What’s incoherent about having that pattern of caring (i.e., those values)?
I think the evidence that weighs on the issue is whether there is a gradient of consciousness.
The evidence about brain structure similarities would indicate that it doesn’t go from no one home to someone home. There’s a continuum of how much someone is home.
If you care about human suffering, it’s incoherent to not care about cow suffering, if the evidence supports my view of consciousness.
I believe the evidence of brain function and looking at what people mean by consciousness indicates a gradient in most if not all of the senses of “consciousness”, and certainly capacity to suffer. Humans are merely more eloquent about describing and reasoning about suffering.
I don’t think this view demands that we care equally about humans and animals. Simpler brains are farther down that gradient of capacity to suffer and enjoy.
Why would this follow from “degree of consciousness” being a continuum? This seems like an unjustified leap. What’s incoherent about having that pattern of caring (i.e., those values)?