Your argument here seems to be something like: “Adult humans are sometimes not self-aware, but we still care about them, even during those times. Is self-awareness therefore irrelevant??” No, of course it’s not. It’s a complex issue. But a chicken is never self-aware, so the point is moot.
Um, “Why don’t we stop caring about people who temporarily lose this supposed be-all and end-all of moral value” seems like a valid question, albeit one you hopefully are introspective enough to have an answer for.
Is the question “why don’t we temporarily stop caring about people who temporarily lose this etc.”?
If so, then maybe we should, if they really lose it. However, please tell me what actions would ensue from, or be made permissible by, a temporary cessation of caring, provided that I still care about that person after they return from this temporary loss of importance.
That depends on the details of your personal moral system, doesn’t it? As I said already, you may well be consistent on this point, but you have not explained how.
Um, “Why don’t we stop caring about people who temporarily lose this supposed be-all and end-all of moral value” seems like a valid question, albeit one you hopefully are introspective enough to have an answer for.
Is the question “why don’t we temporarily stop caring about people who temporarily lose this etc.”?
If so, then maybe we should, if they really lose it. However, please tell me what actions would ensue from, or be made permissible by, a temporary cessation of caring, provided that I still care about that person after they return from this temporary loss of importance.
That depends on the details of your personal moral system, doesn’t it? As I said already, you may well be consistent on this point, but you have not explained how.