My poor fish would roast me all the time for forgetting to feed him!
Humans wouldn't have to interact so much! Just kidding. Actually, the presence of another species of sentient creatures on this planet (let alone many) would certainly necessitate a change in government and interspecies relations. By virtue of our large brains and opposable thumbs, humans would still likely rule the world.
Opposable thumbs, in the words of my biology teacher, are evolutionary advantageous.
Yep.
I also appreciate the complete sentences - I'm a huge english nerd so your responses are very nice to read!
I imagine that humankind would be much more unified, having spent the majority of history fighting for supremacy above other likewise organized species. Aw, thanks :) Our relationship with pets would probably be little better than enslavement. But in the enlightened era of civil rights, I like to think that would change. Eventually, the lives and rights of animals would be considered as equal in value to our own. This would raise a lot of moral questions pertaining to meat-eating in the animal kingdom.
This is the greatest response to a prompt I've ever heard. I'd vote for you as president.
Some species would of necessity be perpetually at war
I've always wondered how, in movies with sentient animals, they deal with carnivores.
Thanks so much, lol :)
But then again those movies are along the lines of Zootopia and My Little Pony, so I guess there's not a lot of space for philosophical discussion.
Anything can be discussed philosophically, even if logic breaks down after a while XD I think that in addition to building personal, mutually beneficial relationships with a handful of species, mankind would eventually unite the globe under our leadership. After all, in this day and age, meat can be grown from stem cells. We could offer the carnivores of the animal kingdom a perpetual supply of ethically obtained protein, and eternal protection to the prey animals. Breeding laws would have to be put into place to prevent population overgrowth, however.
There's also the risk though of population control. If all animals were fully sentient, then how do you justify limiting their population size instead of our own? Wow you had the answer before I even put out the question, what a legend.
I think we'd have to limit all population sizes, including our own. We haven't discussed the problem of sentience, however. What do you think--would all animals be equally intelligent? It seems frankly impossible, neurologically speaking.
Probably not. I think that animals have varying degrees of emotional and intellectual capabilities right now, and even though animals as a whole would get smarter It wouldn't all be even.
I agree.
Unless their brains went through some kind of hyper-evolution, the structures of their nervous systems clearly would favor some species over others (thanks AP biology!).
So, insects, invertebrates, etc. would remain secondary citizens. Yes, I agree. Not all species have even undergone cephalization.
I think that domesticated animals would have the most moral dilemma - we rely on so many animal products today like milk, cheese, meat...
I think it would end up as something of a representative republic, with representation based on brain size. Yes. But again, I think humans have enough to offer that we could barter for most of those things, save meat.
Yeah I don't think cows would go for burgers. :)
Hence the lab-grown meat supply. It sounds off-putting to us, but I think it would be considered enlightened.
If this scenario ever happens, I'm voting for you as president - it seems like you've already got everything figured out.
Haha thank you so much. I think that objectivity would be highly important in such a case.
Speaking of the stem cells, I watched a video a while ago about CRISPR being used to rewrite DNA - are you familiar with that?
Yes. Restriction enzymes?
Yep! I think that that's amazing and a testament to how far science has developed in the past 100 years. Like when I first heard about that, I thought that it was a hypothetical enzyme, but then I saw how they were testing it on large mammals and my head exploded. It's so cool!
Agreed. I believe that every scientific discovery has a positive use, and that it is immoral NOT to put it to such use
Well phrased. I'm guessing you're a science major?
Yeah, it's really cool. Imagine if one day we could, say, develop insulin-producing cells directly within the bodies of diabetics. Yep! I am a neuroscience major. And Russian.
I think that the potential of something like CRISPR to also help with a lot of autoimmune diseases can really revolutionize the way medicine is used. To clarify - you're a Russian neuroscience major or someone majoring in Russian and neuroscience? :)
Yeah. One day, medicine will be completely personalized. The latter Sorry, that was ambiguous :)
I mean, no issues if you're Russian or not, I just thought that was a little random detail halfway through a ethical discussion on DNA editing! Are you studying to be a surgeon?
Either a neurosurgeon, radiologist, or neurologist! What do you want to do?
Emergency room doctor!
:o that's hard-core! Why study English?
Also can I put this conversation on hold for a bit - I'm going to go eat dinner. If you have to hang up, thanks for talking to me, but if not, I'll be back in about 20 minutes
Ohh, you said you're an English nerd, not an English major. Gotcha. Sure! I'm going up to campus for a review. If the loss of wifi doesn't end the conversation, we can continue later. If it does, it was good talking to you :)
I'm back, available whenever you are!
I'm back too, if you're still here.
Hey!
Neuroanatomy melts my brain
So are you double-majoring? Also is that a pun I detect...
Yes. What's your major? Kinda :D
At the moment, biology. Earlier when you mentioned "why study English?" that was rather ironic because I'm not sure if I'd do too well in a science based major.
Why not? Too right-brained?
So lately I've been looking at other fields to major in (minor in biology to get all my med school requirements squared away or double major), and yes I am VERY right brain!
I like neuroscience for that reason. You can take it anywhere. It's good prep for med school but if you wanted to do psychology or consulting or something you could.
Not trying to sound stuck-up, but I am the "creative" type, so majoring in biology hurts me a little bit.
Heheh I really understand. I am extremely creative and literary but also super logical.
Honestly though, neuroscience is a very well-rounded major to use! I was very surprised when I was researching "best pre-med" majors to see a push for non-science  based
So what is it about medicine that attracts you?
undergraduate degrees. I was like "I can do that!"
That's really interesting. Do they just want greater variety?
I really enjoy helping people and I like the actual work. I did clinical rotations last year as a course where we got to shadow doctors/nurses and I really enjoyed it. Yes they want people to become more well-rounded because I'm willing to bet a lot of people just hole themselves up in their dorms and get that perfect grades
What course is that? I'm pretty anxious about getting enough clinical experience.
but then lack the people skills that are so necessary about medical care. Well I'm a senior in high school, so this was a block period our school offered as a type of vocational education course.
Oh, very cool.
But I definitely know that a lot of private practices will offer internships if you're looking for clinical experience.
Yes, I'm trying to stretch myself a little. I have Asperger's so I have to work really hard to keep up my people skills but I think I am doing okay. I did a medical internship
Also you could screenshot your commentary on sentient animal society and I'm sure they'd hire you.
in Latvia last semester.
That explains the Russian! *does that
XD I'll do that. It might get me forced into philosophy though. Sort of. I served my mission in Ukraine and learned Russian there. Latvia was a brush-up.
What kind of work did you do on your internship?
I worked in the hospice ward, and I shadowed the radiologist a lot. It wasn't as active as I wanted, but it was pretty cool.
All in a foreign country. You're a legend.
:) Thanks Claire. That'll be you in a few years! Make sure you do study abroad!
Definitely! I'm going to put my brothers to bed, so if you can hang on for a bit I'll be back (terminator voice!)
Ok :)
Hey there bud
I just beat Doge 2048 again so that was pretty exciting. How old are your brothers?
Wow round of applause! Well I'm the oldest of 6 - 3 girls and 3 boys. The boys are 11, 8, and 6.
Wow O.o My ONE little brother is a handful. Let alone the rain of fury if I tried to put him to bed at 6:30...
I'll babysit for you - I'm experienced!
I believe it.
Honestly I catch myself sounding like a grandma every time I try and put them in bed. They age me.
Most of my grandma moments involve trying to feed people.
How old is your brother?
9
See pre-teen boys are just destructive and mischievious little demons.
Yeah, especially if they have attention/behavior problems. We're going to make this chatbot into a grandma too.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that they're little and don't know better, but whenever I catch them hatching a diabolical plan I resist the urge to strangle. You're so right haha!
They are evil little gremlins, to be sure. So you graduate this summer?
At the end of the month! Counting down the seconds...
Congratulations! Post-graduation plans?
Sleep for the first time in 4 years!
Hahaha. And the last time in another four years...
Hey don't call me out like that. :)
Are you going straight into college?
Starting in the fall, yes indeed!
BYU?
Yep - hence this chat!
Awesome! Ok: start with generals, take random classes that interest you, they might turn into a major. Live in Heritage, go to professors' office hours, don't live off junk food, and for the love of all that is holy do not take 8 am classes. Do your homework in TA labs
Well I'm living in Helaman Halls but other than that I will definitely take note of your advice! Also no thanks, early-morning seminary taught me to schedule things at noon.
Assume American Heritage will be 12x more difficult than it should be, and study accordingly. Helaman, huh... Well, you get a meal plan but that's a year of MTC food...
Eh. I had pizza rolls for dinner for the second night in a row, so I've hit a low point in my eating options right now. My cousin just graduated and she was telling me how American Heritage courses are easy but that they don't prepare you for the tests whatsoever.
Your definition of low point may change, but I concede to your logic.
Hey worse comes to worse I'll just buy 10 pounds of goldfish off amazon and gain the freshman 15 in a week.
I am the last of the generation of AP students who were exempted from American Heritage classes. But all of my friends HATE it.
Darn it! I was reading on their AP credit page that you have to get a 5 on both microeconomics and macroeconomics just for a half credit of American Heritage?!?
Uh... maybe? I just took AP Gov Then they changed the rules. If you're worried about it, just go to ratemyprofessor to make sure you get a decent professor.
Is that website really useful? I've heard from a lot of people going to different schools about it.
Hmm, idk if the site stopped working or if you are just taking a while to respond. I am at FHE but feel free to keep messaging me.