Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Should we widen our moral circles to include animals, insects, and AIs? (with Jeff Sebo)
57 snips
Mar 20, 2024 
In this thought-provoking discussion, Jeff Sebo, an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at NYU and expert in animal ethics and AI, dives into the urgent ethical implications of our responsibilities toward non-human entities. He questions the moral status of not just animals, but also insects and even AIs, challenging us to reconsider our ethical frameworks. The conversation explores critical concepts like consciousness, sentience, and the complexity of measuring welfare across diverse life forms, encouraging listeners to engage with these pressing moral dilemmas.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Factory Farming's Focus on Output
- Factory farming prioritizes output, breeding animals for rapid growth and high production.
- This leads to immense suffering, even before considering their captive conditions.
Insects' Ethical Significance
- Insects, despite their small size, are surprisingly sophisticated creatures.
- Their sheer quantity raises significant ethical questions due to the potential aggregate welfare at stake.
Unique Ethical Challenges of AI
- AI systems present distinct ethical challenges due to their complexity and potential for rapid development.
- We risk unintentionally harming vast numbers of AIs if we don't understand their potential for consciousness.
