We are creating cylons!

[john titor]

if the tables were turned and some alien species decided you were food, you would have to accept this, even though from your perspective and from the aliens, it wouldn't be justified.

Well, if the aliens decided we were food, then I am guessing from their perspective it is justified. Otherwise why did they decide we are food?

Now, if we develop ways to grow meat in vats, I have no problem switching to that instead of using livestock, depending on which is more efficient.

My meat eating does draw a line based on my own standard of intelligence levels. I could never eat a primate nor a cetacean (is that the right word? whale, dolphin, etc?) and I might have problems with anything I have anthropomorphized like a pet. This in no way affects my ability to enjoy beef, chicken, pork or seafood.

That's where I'd be halfway in agreement with you. While the animals mentioned still have sentience its at a really low level to render it a meh decision imo as to whether to eat them or not, however the fact remains that there can be no ethical justification for it in most circumstances, with exception of starvation etc. As for aliens, they wouldn't have any right, just as we have no right to eat other lifeforms, their reasoning would be flawed as they would have no way to objectively justify it.

 

[SilentP]

Now, if we develop ways to grow meat in vats, I have no problem switching to that instead of using livestock, depending on which is more efficient.

My meat eating does draw a line based on my own standard of intelligence levels. I could never eat a primate nor a cetacean (is that the right word? whale, dolphin, etc?) and I might have problems with anything I have anthropomorphized like a pet. This in no way affects my ability to enjoy beef, chicken, pork or seafood.

Totally agree.

 

[john titor]

Actually wait what am I saying!!! Am I turning into a hippy?! I was playing devils advocate. All animals below humans including chimps, dogs and dolphins should be eaten because the bible said so.

 

[sojourner]

So is the basic arguement that carnivorous animals can kill because if they don't they would starve. But we have no right to kill because we are ominvorous?

 

[john titor]

*resumes devils advocate mode*,

yes and also that we can recognize it as unjustified and contributory to the overall pain experienced by creatures which can feel it in the universe.

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

It never fails. Scientists try to build human-like robots, and it leads to a debate on vegetarianism.

 

[sojourner]

That's cause we're Master Debaters!

 

[Deckerd]

What if the robots are programmed to eat meat?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

What if the robots are programmed to eat meat?

Oh dear, a company called Cyclone (damn that's close to Cylon ) and funded by DARPA are working on the Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot or EATR -- although they claim it can be prgrammed to be solely vegetarian:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/09/eatr_beta/

http://www.cyclonepower.com/press/07-07-09.pdf

 

[msbae]

Is this really a good idea, creating robots that look just like humans?

Paint their skin gold, give them a strong ethical subroutine and deny them any form of emotions. Problem solved.