[JoeAltmaier]

The metaphysical version is undefined. So we have the slippery discussions in this whole thread.

[nmilo]

That's the whole point. Consciousness is a fuzzy concept and shouldn't be used as an ethical basis as to what is OK to harm and not harm.

[JoeAltmaier]

I guess we slip into that because inanimate objects are ok to manipulate as we wish without concern. It's a gentle slope from there up to humans, and somewhere along the line it becomes problematic.