If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it is a duck? Anyone? (/s)
No but seriously, i think the question of personhood is interesting and more complicated, at least in theory. Like, what if we ever meet an extraterrestrial species that also exhibits intelligent behavior. Would we consider them natural persons? Would we grant personhood to them? Why, or why not?
Unfortunately probably not. It’s an interesting philosophical question. What is the metric by which we grant personhood and by extension negative rights (life, liberty, autonomy) to a being?
It can’t be intellect, because that would exclude edge case humans with cognitive impairments.
I think sentience is a good metric, but most disagree because the logical conclusion is that we should extend these rights to animals.
If it’s just the fact that we’re human, then this would automatically exclude sentient AI and the above referenced alien species.
If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it is a duck? Anyone? (/s)
No but seriously, i think the question of personhood is interesting and more complicated, at least in theory. Like, what if we ever meet an extraterrestrial species that also exhibits intelligent behavior. Would we consider them natural persons? Would we grant personhood to them? Why, or why not?
Animals on this planet exhibit intelligent behavior.
No then.
Unfortunately probably not. It’s an interesting philosophical question. What is the metric by which we grant personhood and by extension negative rights (life, liberty, autonomy) to a being?
It can’t be intellect, because that would exclude edge case humans with cognitive impairments.
I think sentience is a good metric, but most disagree because the logical conclusion is that we should extend these rights to animals.
If it’s just the fact that we’re human, then this would automatically exclude sentient AI and the above referenced alien species.
It is not like we grant personhood or rights to begin with. History shows that those are taken through violence.
I mean do we?
If a bird loses their wings. Does it suddenly become not a bird? If so, what is it? A snake?
Bro if extraterrestrials visit Earth. The more important question will be whether **they grant humans personhood! **
If extraterrestrials visit us, granting them personhood will be moot.