80k After Hours Highlights: #196 – Jonathan Birch on the edge cases of sentience and why they matter
Aug 30, 2024
Jonathan Birch, an expert in sentience, dives into intriguing discussions on the history of neonatal surgery sans anesthesia and the misconceptions surrounding pain in newborns. He sheds light on the complex link between fetal sentience and abortion, arguing for bodily autonomy in advocacy. The conversation delves into the ethical stakes of neural organoids and the potential for AI sentience through computational emulation. Birch also champions the importance of citizen assemblies in policymaking, highlighting the value of public perspectives in scientific ethics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Neonatal Surgery Without Anesthetic
- In the 1980s, neonatal surgery was often performed without anesthetic, leading to infant mortality and developmental issues.
- Public outcry and campaigns, like Jill Lawson's, ultimately changed this harmful practice.
Overconfidence in Sentience
- Overconfidence about sentience is dangerous and prevalent.
- Doctors neglected the risks of not using anesthesia due to an overemphasis on the risks of using it.
Overconfidence in Disorders of Consciousness
- A 1990s task force overconfidently declared vegetative patients incapable of feeling pain due to inactive cortical mechanisms.
- Clinicians should err on the side of caution due to the uncertain science of consciousness.