Re: Sentient animals

blake wrote on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:43:06 GMT:

??>> "James Silverton" <not.jim.silverton@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
??>> message news:tng0j.38917$dl4.3262@xxxxxxxxxxx
??>>> Sarah wrote on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:53:41 -0500:
??>>>
SG>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
??>>>>> "James Silverton" <not.jim.silverton@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
??>>>>> in message news:MWJ%i.6790$e35.2326@xxxxxxxxxxx
??>>>>>> If, like me, you believe in the immorality of killing
??>>>>>> sentient animals like whales for food, you may be
??>>>>>> appalled by this URL: http://tinyurl.com/2vrw5o
??>>>>>>
??>>>>>> Japan's fisheries ministry said the fleet had
??>>>>>> instructions to kill up to 1,000 whales, including 50
??>>>>>> humpbacks.
??>>>>>>
??>>>>>> Japan was forced to abandon commercial whaling in
??>>>>>> 1986, but has since carried out whaling for
??>>>>>> "scientific research".
??>>>>>>
??>>>>>> Four whaling ships, including the lead craft Nisshin
??>>>>>> Maru, will depart from the southern port of
??>>>>>> Shimonoseki.
??>>>>>>
??>>>>>> James Silverton
??>>>>>> Potomac, Maryland
??>>>>>
??>>>>> I agree about the whales, but not because they're
??>>>>> sentient. Who are we to judge which animals are
??>>>>> sentient and which are not? Got a definitive list?
??>>>>>
SG>>>> Hell, I've known enough humans I've had doubts about...
??>>>
??>>> There might be some humans the world could do without but
??>>> I can't give names for sure even if history
??>>> (unfortunately) gives some indication:-)
??>>>
??>>> At the moment, tho' my personal
??>>> non-eating list might grow, it includes all whales,
??>>> possibly all dolphins and certainly orcas. To tell the
??>>> truth, it is easy to avoid eating whale since my memory
??>>> of eating the meat long ago is that it tasted like beef
??>>> with fishy overtones....a bit like the results of the
??>>> unsuccessful attempt to feed pigs fish meal during WWII
??>>> :-)
??>>>
??>>> James Silverton
??>>
??>> Here are three definitions of sentient:
??>> 1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions
??>> <sentient beings> 2 : aware 3 : finely sensitive in
??>> perception or feeling
??>>
??>> Do you agree with any or all of these definitions? If yes,
??>> please show proof that cows, chickens, pigs, turkeys and
??>> many fish are not sentient.
??>>
??>> Proof.
??>>
bm> how about this? i don't give a *** what the chicken
bm> thinks about me eating him.

I use sentient in the sense of "self aware". I doubt if a chicken achieves that, not that it can't feel pain. Some species of monkeys might be included but not all, IMHO. I wonder also if manatees, tho' harmless critters, can be included. I don't feel any urge to eat monkey or manatee anyway :-) I can't help thinking that some ferocious orcas have learned that humans are not safe prey and has passed that on. You don't hear about orcas attacking people and dolphins have only done it while seriously provoked like the case of the Brazilian yobbo who intentionally poked one in its breathing hole.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

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