In terms of digital sentience, I do think it is somewhat reassuring that we harm animals out of indifference, not malice. Thereâs no particular general reason I can see to think that when we pursue our interests with indifference rather than hostility to the well-being of other sentients, that the side-effects of this for the other sentients will systematically and non-coincidentally harm rather than help them. Like, it could be that what suits our interests just happens to be to bunch of digital minds that have no feelings, or that mostly enjoy the tasks we give them, just as much as it could turn out that the best way to exploit them involves net suffering for the minds. Factory farming is basically a single case, so I donât think it should move us much towards âactually exploiting other sentients for our own gain will have systematically negative, rather than basically random effects on their welfareâ. After all, itâs not even completely clear the pre factory farming was net negative for the animals involved.
I agree, especially living here in Uganda, (anecdata incoming) where many people keep their chicken and goats inside at night, then release them for the day to wander around and the animals behave at least like they are pretty OK. Also in my home country of new Zealand, I find it hard to imagine that farmed sheep and beef cows donât have her positive lives, roaming free on big farms.
In terms of digital sentience, I do think it is somewhat reassuring that we harm animals out of indifference, not malice. Thereâs no particular general reason I can see to think that when we pursue our interests with indifference rather than hostility to the well-being of other sentients, that the side-effects of this for the other sentients will systematically and non-coincidentally harm rather than help them. Like, it could be that what suits our interests just happens to be to bunch of digital minds that have no feelings, or that mostly enjoy the tasks we give them, just as much as it could turn out that the best way to exploit them involves net suffering for the minds. Factory farming is basically a single case, so I donât think it should move us much towards âactually exploiting other sentients for our own gain will have systematically negative, rather than basically random effects on their welfareâ. After all, itâs not even completely clear the pre factory farming was net negative for the animals involved.
I agree, especially living here in Uganda, (anecdata incoming) where many people keep their chicken and goats inside at night, then release them for the day to wander around and the animals behave at least like they are pretty OK. Also in my home country of new Zealand, I find it hard to imagine that farmed sheep and beef cows donât have her positive lives, roaming free on big farms.