Posted by Funk Wagnall on February 08, 1999 at 15:14:53:
In Reply to: Re: Just to provoke thought posted by Tyler on February 08, 1999 at 13:41:58:
: : : I have been thinking about something for quite a while and I wish to propose a certain aspect of it for discussion on this board. I am, however, not going to state my reasons for thinking this (not yet, not until I see what people think without hearing my ideas). See how far you can stretch your mind.
: : : I think animals are sentient.
: : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
: : I would say so.
: : sentient - adj.
: : 1. Having sense perception; conscious.
: : 2. Experiencing sensation or feeling.
: : 3. Able to receive and respond to external stimuli.
: : 4. Marked by comprehension, cognizance, and perception.
: : 5. Readily stirred by emotion.
: : The first 3 def's would probably apply to all mammals, reptiles, birds, etc.
: : The 4th definition would apply to most, unless you are stipulating what level of comprehension and cognizance you will accept.
: : The 5th definition could be debatable, at least because of the word "readily". It also depends what level and what diversity of emotion you are stipulating.
: : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
: Hahahahahaha (LOL)
: when I wrote this, I thought to myself, 'I'd bet a hundred bucks Steve lists the dictionary definition of sentience."
: I'm still not going to state my ideas. I want to know what several people think. Maybe after a week or something, but consider this, when I said sentience, I meant it in the fullness of the word, not just to varying degrees.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Don't wait for too many responses here. (History has not shown that to be the norm so far - although I'd love to be surprised here.)
My problem is, even your definition of "the fullness of the word" must be, in fact, a degree.
Is there a definition that adequately articulates what you mean by "fullness"?
Even if you yourself could draw the proverbial line to cross, you'll have to definitively communicate where you've drawn it before anyone could really say they agree or disagree. (At least anyone as ANALytical as me.)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *