Re: Can't afford to rescue cows

From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@rawbw.com)
Date: Sun Apr 20 2008 - 09:24:37 MDT


Byrne writes

> [attribution absent] wrote
>
> > Even if we forget intelligence as having any
> > correlation to natural rights, from a utilitarian
> > perspective, animals can feel pain and experience
> > pleasure, therefore they should be entitled to a
> > certain treatment from humans (or an AI?) as it
> > applies to these senses.
>
> So a gene for experiencing pain more vividly is an
> evolutionary advantage for a cow?

Well, it *was*. Unless I misunderstand your point.
There is no reason for it to be of evolutionary advantage
*now*.

> Or would we sterilize anything that is inconveniently
> able to hurt?

Better, we just GE away the capacity to experience severe hurt.

Lee



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