Similarly, our history is marked by an evolution from a disregard for living creatures that impeded our survival, to a respect of other living creatures and life (abolishment of slavery, vegan, better treatment of creatures, etc). With sentience comes greater respect for life and self actualization.
That seems to imply that as society advances, abortion will be prohibited, at least at stages where the fetus has as much mental capacity as an animal.
Jiro—I honestly wouldn’t be surprised through development of advanced contraceptives. Abortion as it currently stands is a last resort anyhow. Most people nowadays will take the pill, etc (a relatively recent development). A lot of the blowback to abortion has been centered on value of life—I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine some entrepreneur addressing that through advanced permanent contraceptive until such a time as a child will be wanted. Additionally, I’m aware that there can be pretty serious PTSD following abortion, and severe guilt associated with the termination of a potential sentient. I think circumstance and lack of sufficiently advanced technology in the present forces people to run a cost-benefit analysis and arrive at the conclusion that an abortion is necessary (as time is limited).
A sentient AI able to transcend spatiotemporal boundaries wouldn’t be limited by time.
That seems to imply that as society advances, abortion will be prohibited, at least at stages where the fetus has as much mental capacity as an animal.
Jiro—I honestly wouldn’t be surprised through development of advanced contraceptives. Abortion as it currently stands is a last resort anyhow. Most people nowadays will take the pill, etc (a relatively recent development). A lot of the blowback to abortion has been centered on value of life—I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine some entrepreneur addressing that through advanced permanent contraceptive until such a time as a child will be wanted. Additionally, I’m aware that there can be pretty serious PTSD following abortion, and severe guilt associated with the termination of a potential sentient. I think circumstance and lack of sufficiently advanced technology in the present forces people to run a cost-benefit analysis and arrive at the conclusion that an abortion is necessary (as time is limited).
A sentient AI able to transcend spatiotemporal boundaries wouldn’t be limited by time.