Animal rights, veganism and PETA

[Edwardo Piet]

You could say the same of other people. You can never know for sure that they have any inner mental life.

Very true. I am only aware of my own conciousness: So I only KNOW my own consciousness.

But I don't use deduction to (pragmatically) justify my belief in the consciousness of others. I use induction. Since I'm conscious and I'm, mostly, very like other people and have a brain like other people, and since when my brain is affected my consciousness is affected.... there's inductive reasoning leading me to believe the same is true for others like me.

So, if the data shows that chickens' brains are closer to human sophistication (and so also closer to me) I will be much more likely to believe that they are sentient (like I believe I and other humans are). If the data shows that chicken's brains are not so close to humans, I'll be less likely to believe it.

And yes, I can't know for sure. Which is why it's a risky business and why if I was only 50/50 I'd prefer to assume they had sentience.

I personally haven't seen the data the VOID has, and as I've said: I'm not that bothered. There's so much suffering in this world that I can only do a small part in helping anyway. I will do what I can when I can do it.

Once I turn 18, I'll probably give blood? Also, are you an organ donor? That way, you can be useful even in death.

Good idea. That didn't occur to me, I didn't think of signing up for that already. Others may find it kind of silly of me since I'm only 22 lol. But yeah I'd love to donate all my organs....

But this forum's much the better for it.

Thank you! lol

Mean pain presupposes aggregate pain, because it suggests that pain units can be added together to find a 'mean'.

Yes of course, sorry. By aggregate I was referring to a total aggregate as opposed to a mean one

All forms of utilitarian aggregation (and therefore, all forms of utilitarianism since it uses aggregation) are inaccurate because consciousness is separate

Negative consequentialism rules, I agree.

Indeed, as Kant said.

Well there's a matter I agree with him on ethically. I'm a consequentalist though hehe.