3 ms·
> Unfortunately not only do I not know how to tell if any given animal can genuinely experience suffering (rather than merely act in a way that tiggers my empat
by anonymouskimmer 4y ago
> Unfortunately not only do I not know how to tell if any given animal can genuinely experience suffering (rather than merely act in a way that tiggers my empathy/sympathy), I don't think anyone else can either.
Biochemical signalling, and pathways, along with neural responses. It helps that so much of animal genetics is similar. Here was a study in fruit flies: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190712120244.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190712120244.h...
- ben_w 4y agoThat tells us about a signalling mechanism, not about an inner subjective experience. Those insects in that study might be conscious, or they might not be — but as I read it, part of the hard problem of consciousness is that we still don't yet understand the question. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_problem_of_consciousness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_problem_of_consciousness
- anonymouskimmer 4y agoThis is also a criticism with respect to other humans. Especially when we start talking about humans in comas, vegetative states, or locked-in syndrome. Or heck, even people with congenital insensitivity to pain. At the very least, not everyone values their own suffering the same. Masochists can see it as something to be cultivated, even.