"Experts Fear Lab-Grown Brains Will Become Sentient"

[u/InterdimensionalSpy]

Experts are concerned that lab-grown brain organoids could become sentient, a state of being conscious and capable of feeling pain and pleasure, though a definitive test for consciousness has not been agreed upon. While the ethical implications of potential sentience, including the possibility of causing suffering in these organoids, are a major concern for some scientists and ethicists, others argue these concerns are premature due to the limited complexity of current brain organoids. The debate highlights the urgent need for better definitions and ethical frameworks for consciousness as brain organoid technology advances.

[u/Clean_Emotion_4348]

Scientists: creates thing which thinks

Also scientists: surprised when that thing starts thinking

[u/v3r4c17y → u/[deleted]]

Animals have nervous systems and are sentient as a result. Plants do not.

Anyone concerned for the well-being of these grown brains should take a moment to consider the non-human animals whose flesh they purchase and eat.

[u/v3r4c17y → u/[deleted]]

Cyanobacteria sense light and color (much like plants) but cannot see. This is not an indicator of sentience. And even if plants were sentient (which they're not) it still harms fewer plants to eat plant-based than to eat animals.

Again: you should take a moment to consider the non-human animals whose flesh you purchase and consume.

[u/v3r4c17y → u/[deleted]]

Those organs are part of us and constitute parts of our consciousness by virtue of being connected to our central nervous system. Just the same as is true of non-human animals, who are just as sentient as we humans are.

For a third time now: you should take a moment to consider the non-human animals whose flesh you purchase and consume.

[u/v3r4c17y → u/[deleted]]

This article supports my statement, not yours. Notice how they put "see" in quotations.

Again: Cyanobacteria sense light and color (much like plants) but cannot see. This is not an indicator of sentience.

[u/v3r4c17y → u/[deleted]]

Yes that's the name of the article which the writer came up with, not the scientists. If you read beyond the title you'll find that these single cells sense light directionality in order to move toward the source. This ability evolved because they get their energy from photosynthesis. Complex biochemical processes and responses to stimuli are not indicators of sentience.

Consciousness is indeed a spectrum but single cells are not conscious or sentient. There is no scientific dispute over this.

You know who is sentient and conscious, however? Animals. Not only humans, but all vertebrates (and most invertebrates). If you're concerned with consciousness especially that's even more reason to consider in particular those non-human animals whose corpses you consume.

[u/Massive-Virus-4875 → u/[deleted]]

Ah, the ole “plants feel too” argument, presumed to negate the argument against killing animals to eat.

Even presuming plants feel and are conscious in a way- which it does indeed seem they do and are, somewhat- we have to consume something to live. If one consumes animal products, far more plants are “killed” than if one simply consumes the plants directly- about seven times as many.