On the whole, I quite like Ethan Siegel’s articles. I, however, take exception to the highlighted sentiment. Being a supporter of PeTA, I disagree. PeTA is one of the few groups that protests against wanton cruelty to sentient creatures — raising awareness of horrid things like live skinning of animals (including dogs and cats) for fur, or the boiling alive of birds (turkeys and chickens for KFC).
I respect a position that denies sentience in any being but one’s own self as at least internally consistent. But it irks me when, for instance, it’s ok to ascribe feelings to some creatures, but not others. That, to me, is hypocritical. It then becomes a matter of subjective convenience, more than anything else — As far removed from the true scientific spirit as I can imagine.
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