Thereâs a distinction in theory but in practice the vague definition of âsentienceâ is so tied to moral relevance I donât think you can argue for one without also arguing for the other.
The question âdoes a worm feel painâ isnât really asking âdoes the worm have nociceptors and some degree of integration of those nociceptive signals that causes learning and behavioural changesâ. Itâs really asking, at the core, âdoes a worm âfeel painâ in a way thatâs morally importantâ
Thereâs a distinction in theory but in practice the vague definition of âsentienceâ is so tied to moral relevance I donât think you can argue for one without also arguing for the other.
The question âdoes a worm feel painâ isnât really asking âdoes the worm have nociceptors and some degree of integration of those nociceptive signals that causes learning and behavioural changesâ. Itâs really asking, at the core, âdoes a worm âfeel painâ in a way thatâs morally importantâ