Clubbing Baby Seals
This may not be a productive discussion item, but since it was discussed in class somewhat, I'm curious as to whether people will continue the argument about the sentient nature of pain and why people might choose to club roaches in preference of baby seals (or perhaps neither at all.) Comments that include references to accessible discussions of this topic are also welcome, as is a better formulation of the question that doesn't involve such charged topics as seal clubbing. -Peter Jensen
At this stage of my introduction to Cog Sci, it seems to me that our judgement is based solely on similarity to ourselves. So we just feel that the seal which is flesh and blood will experience more pain than the cockroach. However, I don't intend to examine the subject as I intend to club any cockroach thaty I find and don;t need to develop guilt feelings. However, I will read the article.Daphne
There can be some distinguishment which gets at the animal intelligence issue. Does a seal have 'more cognition' than a roach? I think many would argue yes, which maybe why killing roaches is "more acceptable" than killing baby seals. This is of course not a topic that we have all the answers to which is partly why there is so much controversy. And we needent even go there but it also leads into the abortion topic as well. Marty
Coming from a field in which I deal with these issues alot, I have a few thoughts. My advisor refers to the most loved animals that people attempt to protect as charasmatic megavertabrates. People tend to protect these kind of animals, the ones more like us. It is so much easier to get people up in arms about abuse or killing of the larger vertabrates than a measly cockroach. Also, as far as I know insects do not have pain receptors, so I do not think they actually feel getting smushed. Angela