#196 – Jonathan Birch on the edge cases of sentience and why they matter
Aug 15, 2024
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In this engaging conversation, Jonathan Birch, a Philosophy professor at the London School of Economics and author of 'The Edge of Sentience,' dives into the complexities of sentience across various beings, from humans with consciousness disorders to AI. He discusses the dangers of overconfidence in assessing sentience, emphasizing historical medical practices that overlooked suffering. Birch also explores ethical implications in policy-making and the evolving understanding of sentience in species like invertebrates and neural organoids, urging a careful, evidence-based approach.
The historical mistreatment of conscious patients highlights the danger of overconfidence in assessing sentience and consciousness.
Advancements in fMRI technology have revealed notable consciousness in patients previously thought to be unresponsive, challenging traditional medical classifications.
The philosophical definition of sentience, centered on the capacity to suffer, demands ethical consideration across a broader spectrum of species.
Citizens' assemblies can enhance public engagement in ethical policymaking about sentience, integrating diverse perspectives and scientific insights into decision processes.
Deep dives
The Historical Misunderstanding of Consciousness
In 1994, a task force confidently declared that patients in perceived vegetative states were not conscious, reflecting the scientific community's overreliance on superficial assessments. The case of Kate Bainbridge illustrates a tragic consequence of this misunderstanding, as she suffered without pain relief, despite being aware of her surroundings. Later, as she recovered, she provided harrowing testimony about her experiences during that time, emphasizing the consequences of misdiagnosis. This case hints at significant implications for medical practices and the need for reevaluating definitions of consciousness.
Recent advancements in technology, particularly fMRI, have allowed scientists to explore consciousness in patients previously deemed unresponsive. Research from Adrian Owen's group demonstrated that some patients in vegetative states could respond to yes-no questions through brain activity patterns similar to healthy individuals. This groundbreaking evidence challenges the notion that silence equates to a complete lack of consciousness and suggests a phenomenon called cognitive motor dissociation. As such technologies advance, they create opportunities to better assess and understand consciousness in complex cases.
Sentience as the Basis for Moral Consideration
The philosophical concept of sentience, which defines the capacity to feel pain and pleasure, is crucial to understanding moral consideration across various species. Jeremy Bentham famously articulated that moral standing hinges on the ability to suffer, not on reasoning or language capabilities. This perspective challenges the anthropocentric view of intelligence being the sole basis for moral concern, allowing a broader range of beings, including octopuses and coma patients, to be recognized as morally relevant. Birch argues that sentience must be the primary criterion for moral agency, ushering in new considerations in ethics.
Addressing Uncertainty in Policymaking
Birch acknowledges the complexities and uncertainties regarding sentience in both traditional and emerging candidates while emphasizing the importance of practical decision-making. He rejects the notion of needing absolute certainty before taking action, advocating for a precautionary approach that recognizes potential suffering. This approach pushes for frameworks that allow policymakers to err on the side of caution, addressing risks and injustices faced by sentient candidates. Engaging in public discourse and drawing upon scientific evidence can help develop relevant and proportionate responses to these uncertainties.
The Role of Citizens' Assemblies
Birch highlights the potential of citizens' assemblies to bridge the gap between expert knowledge and public sentiment, particularly in matters surrounding sentience. These assemblies foster democratic debate and allow a random sampling of the population to deliberate on ethical questions concerning policy decisions. The aim is to include diverse perspectives, ensuring decisions reflect societal values amidst scientific uncertainty. This participatory approach can lead to more informed, responsive policy outcomes that prioritize ethical considerations over purely economic or political motivations.
The Imperative to Research Invertebrate Sentience
Research indicates a strong potential for sentience in various invertebrates, challenging long-held assumptions about their lack of consciousness. Recent studies have shown behaviors in species such as octopuses and crabs that suggest substantial cognitive capabilities. However, Birch emphasizes that much is still unknown, and further investigation is vital to comprehensively understand the welfare needs of these animals. Making invertebrates a focal point for ethical discussions on sentience could shift societal perspectives and promote better treatment standards.
The Intersection of Buddhism and Sentience
Birch's discussions with Tibetan Buddhist monks reveal intriguing cross-cultural perspectives on consciousness and sentience, emphasizing a rich historical understanding that aligns with some scientific findings. The monks' recognition of sentience in insects and their established views on sleep challenge the conventional timeline of scientific discovery. This exchange underscores the importance of integrating philosophical and spiritual perspectives in contemporary discourse on sentience. The variations in beliefs among different Buddhist groups also highlight the complexity and richness of viewpoints on this critical issue.
"In the 1980s, it was still apparently common to perform surgery on newborn babies without anaesthetic on both sides of the Atlantic. This led to appalling cases, and to public outcry, and to campaigns to change clinical practice. And as soon as [some courageous scientists] looked for evidence, it showed that this practice was completely indefensible and then the clinical practice was changed. People don’t need convincing anymore that we should take newborn human babies seriously as sentience candidates. But the tale is a useful cautionary tale, because it shows you how deep that overconfidence can run and how problematic it can be. It just underlines this point that overconfidence about sentience is everywhere and is dangerous." —Jonathan Birch
Candidates for sentience, such as humans with consciousness disorders, foetuses, neural organoids, invertebrates, and AIs
Humanity’s history of acting as if we’re sure that such beings are incapable of having subjective experiences — and why Jonathan thinks that that certainty is completely unjustified.
Chilling tales about overconfident policies that probably caused significant suffering for decades.
How policymakers can act ethically given real uncertainty.
Whether simulating the brain of the roundworm C. elegans or Drosophila (aka fruit flies) would create minds equally sentient to the biological versions.
How new technologies like brain organoids could replace animal testing, and how big the risk is that they could be sentient too.
Why Jonathan is so excited about citizens’ assemblies.
Jonathan’s conversation with the Dalai Lama about whether insects are sentient.
And plenty more.
Chapters:
Cold open (00:00:00)
Luisa’s intro (00:01:20)
The interview begins (00:03:04)
Why does sentience matter? (00:03:31)
Inescapable uncertainty about other minds (00:05:43)
The “zone of reasonable disagreement” in sentience research (00:10:31)
Disorders of consciousness: comas and minimally conscious states (00:17:06)
Foetuses and the cautionary tale of newborn pain (00:43:23)
Neural organoids (00:55:49)
AI sentience and whole brain emulation (01:06:17)
Policymaking at the edge of sentience (01:28:09)
Citizens’ assemblies (01:31:13)
The UK’s Sentience Act (01:39:45)
Ways Jonathan has changed his mind (01:47:26)
Careers (01:54:54)
Discussing animal sentience with the Dalai Lama (01:59:08)
Luisa’s outro (02:01:04)
Producer and editor: Keiran Harris Audio engineering by Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, Simon Monsour, and Dominic Armstrong Additional content editing: Katy Moore and Luisa Rodriguez Transcriptions: Katy Moore
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