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Sorry, but I'm going to need a Dolphin declaration of independence, armed revolution and ability to self sustain through value creation first.

by johnnyg 14y ago

swombat 14y ago
I think it could easily be argued that the dolphins' way of life is more sustainable than ours... Probably not the best line of argument!
- johnnyg 14y ago
  You think humans chasing small fish around in the surf is a superior way to live? Seriously? There is nothing stopping you...just keep walking west. :)
  - Zaephyr 14y ago
    So long, and thanks for all the fish!
- Jach 14y ago
  In the long term? No way. Only humans have the potential to spread themselves off this rock and throughout the solar system and beyond. Dolphins are limited to where we take them.
  - Osmium 14y ago
    Conversely, only humans have the ability to wipe all forms of intelligent life off this planet and hasten their own destruction. Furthermore, you could've made the same comment about us [humans] just a few thousand years ago. And considering the rate of evolution compared to the length of time this planet is going to be around for, it's probably a bad idea to extrapolate the fate of dolphins in the future based on their current capabilities.
  - natex 14y ago
    "Only humans have the potential to spread themselves off this rock and throughout the solar system and beyond. Dolphins are limited to where we take them." This wasn't always the case, and may not be true in a million years.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
takluyver 14y ago
"Humans believe they are more intelligent than dolphins because they have achieved so much - New York, the wheel, wars, and so on - while all the dolphins ever did was mess around in the water having a good time. Conversely, dolphins believe that they are more intelligent than humans for precisely the same reason." - Douglas Adams
nathan_long 14y ago
By "armed revolution" you're implying that someone has rights only if they are able to defend them. While that seems pragmatic, it actually destroys the definition of "rights". Saying "X has a right to live" means "you shouldn't kill X." That's a completely different statement from "you will not be able to kill X." Morality is concerned with what you are obligated to do or not do, apart from your preferences or abilities.
- johnnyg 14y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasymachus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasymachus This has been hashed out before. Doesn't go well for "rights" in the sense you mean.
pyre 14y ago
A baby can't self-sustain, is it ok if I kill it? Someone that is brain-dead can't self-sustain, are there no legal/ethical qualms if I pull the plug? Are disabled people open season for abuse because they are 'lesser' than the rest of us?
- Evbn 14y ago
  You are being rhetorical, but the answers are obvious to the many people who engage in these antisocial behaviors.

Sorry, but I'm going to need a Dolphin declaration of independence, armed revolution and ability to self sustain through value creation first.

by johnnyg 14y ago

Sorry, but I'm going to need a Dolphin declaration of independence, armed revolution and ability to self sustain through value creation first.

swombat 14y ago

I think it could easily be argued that the dolphins' way of life is more sustainable than ours... Probably not the best line of argument!

johnnyg 14y ago
You think humans chasing small fish around in the surf is a superior way to live? Seriously? There is nothing stopping you...just keep walking west. :)
- Zaephyr 14y ago
  So long, and thanks for all the fish!
Jach 14y ago
In the long term? No way. Only humans have the potential to spread themselves off this rock and throughout the solar system and beyond. Dolphins are limited to where we take them.
- Osmium 14y ago
  Conversely, only humans have the ability to wipe all forms of intelligent life off this planet and hasten their own destruction. Furthermore, you could've made the same comment about us [humans] just a few thousand years ago. And considering the rate of evolution compared to the length of time this planet is going to be around for, it's probably a bad idea to extrapolate the fate of dolphins in the future based on their current capabilities.
- natex 14y ago
  "Only humans have the potential to spread themselves off this rock and throughout the solar system and beyond. Dolphins are limited to where we take them." This wasn't always the case, and may not be true in a million years.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]

takluyver 14y ago

"Humans believe they are more intelligent than dolphins because they have achieved so much - New York, the wheel, wars, and so on - while all the dolphins ever did was mess around in the water having a good time. Conversely, dolphins believe that they are more intelligent than humans for precisely the same reason." - Douglas Adams

nathan_long 14y ago

By "armed revolution" you're implying that someone has rights only if they are able to defend them. While that seems pragmatic, it actually destroys the definition of "rights". Saying "X has a right to live" means "you shouldn't kill X." That's a completely different statement from "you will not be able to kill X." Morality is concerned with what you are obligated to do or not do, apart from your preferences or abilities.

johnnyg 14y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasymachus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasymachus This has been hashed out before. Doesn't go well for "rights" in the sense you mean.

pyre 14y ago

A baby can't self-sustain, is it ok if I kill it? Someone that is brain-dead can't self-sustain, are there no legal/ethical qualms if I pull the plug? Are disabled people open season for abuse because they are 'lesser' than the rest of us?

Evbn 14y ago
You are being rhetorical, but the answers are obvious to the many people who engage in these antisocial behaviors.