[_sbrk]

Define sentient, and make sure you consider that plants react to pests, even if it is not in an animal way.

[buzzy_hacker]

We cannot be sure of any being’s sentience without direct experience. Absent that, we are left to our best guesses. This is true of most things.

Our best guess is that plants do not experience suffering in the same way that animals do.

[shlant]

it's very interesting to me how many people seem to have all of the sudden become very concerned about the perceived consciousness of plants.

My question usually is: "Your interpretation of 'plant consciousness' and consciousness in general aside - do you personally see no difference between a flower and a cow?"

[jojobas]

Flowers are typically not as tasty. Everything about ethics is man-made, whatever people agree is good for people is ethical.

[buzzy_hacker]

Are you saying that you actually believe it is by definition ethical to do things that society agrees is good for people (regardless of what actually is good for people or for animals)?

Or are you saying that what society deems ethical (regardless of what actually is, in fact, ethical) tends to align with actions that are good for people?

[shlant]

so you would treat a dog in the same way you would a blade of grass?

[jimmydddd]

Cows are more like me. A flowers are less like me. So I'm biased against flowers because they are less like me. But I don't know if it's more ethical to act based on my bias.