this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2023
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If complete mutually intelligible communication of complex ideas with another species is undeniably proven, that will be a massive boon for veganism(although of course not all animals are equal), and a legal quagmire. What do you do if they are suffering in ways that we can fix due to their environment? Like humans were, and then we changed our environment. Do you give whales weapons so they can defend themselves from orcas? Do you shoot whale pochers? Do you shoot orcas attacking whales? Do you farm krill for them to eat? Do you drastically alter the ocean surface to be more comfortable for whales?
After all, most people recognize it as good to alter a person's natural state(hunting and gathering from caves) for the better, so would that not be the same for animals that are considered essentially people or near-people?
We don't even treat other humans on earth with dignity and respect and you think anything will change for whales as drastically as you propose? Maybe I'm mega jaded but I see this having little impact.
Last time I checked you don't eat abstract linguistic concepts.
Abstract linguistic concepts ensure you can eat.
Nobody said anything about complex ideas. Maybe they just said. "food here"
Speaking to animals would be cool but I doubt they'd have much to share other than basic instincts.
Well actually having a language allows way more complex ideas than ever communicated with an animal before
What is this idea about not eating non-humans I communicate with. I speak with my plants too and they entertain complex thought. Do I have to stop eating them? There is nothing out there that isn't a person. Continue eating as you see fit and be kind to the living.
Speaking to something doesn't mean it understands and reacts to it.
Speaking is an act of changing reality, always. If you want to go as far as calling this 'speaking to' is up to you.