Killing someone who isn’t (never has been, never will be) conscious is about as morally consequential as turning off a computer, closing a video game, or breaking a rock in two. :/ I’m not sure where that takes this conversation really, but it is interesting. Or maybe it’s morally nearer—smashing mannequins. Not sure where it is—there’s definitely a difference. And there’s always the possibility that a person just doesn’t know that they’re conscious. Or they’re just pretending to be asleep, or what have you. (Jaron Lanier: You can’t wake someone up who’s pretending to be asleep.)
A solid point.
Killing someone who isn’t (never has been, never will be) conscious is about as morally consequential as turning off a computer, closing a video game, or breaking a rock in two. :/ I’m not sure where that takes this conversation really, but it is interesting. Or maybe it’s morally nearer—smashing mannequins. Not sure where it is—there’s definitely a difference. And there’s always the possibility that a person just doesn’t know that they’re conscious. Or they’re just pretending to be asleep, or what have you. (Jaron Lanier: You can’t wake someone up who’s pretending to be asleep.)
“Paper people.”