In the relevant examples that are enslaved humans and exploited animals, suffering itself is not a limiting factor.
I think suffering may actually be a limiting factor. There is a point beyond which worsening the conditions in factory-farms would not increase productivity, because the increase in mortality and disability (and therefore suffering) would not be compensated by the decrease in costs. In general, if pain is sufficiently severe, animals will be physically injured, which limits how useful they will be.
Thanks Vasco! Perhaps a nitpick but suffering still doesn’t seem to be the limiting factor per se, here. If farmed animals were philosophical zombies (i.e., were not sentient but still had the exact same needs), that wouldn’t change the fact that one needs to keep them in conditions that are ok enough to be able to make a profit out of them. The limiting factor is their physical needs, not their suffering itself. Do you agree?
I think the distinction is important because it suggests that suffering itself appears as a limiting factor only insofar as it is strong evidence of physical needs that are not met. And while both strongly correlate in the present, I argue that we should expect this to change.
Interesting post, Jim!
I think suffering may actually be a limiting factor. There is a point beyond which worsening the conditions in factory-farms would not increase productivity, because the increase in mortality and disability (and therefore suffering) would not be compensated by the decrease in costs. In general, if pain is sufficiently severe, animals will be physically injured, which limits how useful they will be.
Thanks Vasco! Perhaps a nitpick but suffering still doesn’t seem to be the limiting factor per se, here. If farmed animals were philosophical zombies (i.e., were not sentient but still had the exact same needs), that wouldn’t change the fact that one needs to keep them in conditions that are ok enough to be able to make a profit out of them. The limiting factor is their physical needs, not their suffering itself. Do you agree?
I think the distinction is important because it suggests that suffering itself appears as a limiting factor only insofar as it is strong evidence of physical needs that are not met. And while both strongly correlate in the present, I argue that we should expect this to change.
Thanks for clarifying!
Yes, I agree.