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why stop with crustaceans ? trees have sentience too just look into how they respond to predation ... when under attack from say insects they launch a synthesis of molecules which attracts yet other species which feed on those insects ... do not limit the scope of precious life forms to those with similar awareness / feelings / response time frames similar to humans ... life is far more subtle than we can ever imagine at this early stage in human awareness

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Because most people's empathy doesn't extend to trees. That is the simple factual answer. All these other games about what trait draws the ethical line are post hoc. The reality is people feel it is bad to hurt animals they can empathize with.

Though, to be fair, i don't personally think ethics can work any other way. We don't have slaves not because it is an objective crime against the gods, but because culturally it is wrong. Until your computer becomes sentient that is, then we will have slaves for another few centuries.

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