jonmrodriguez

Joined 16 years ago

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1,733
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461
Member since
Oct 24
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Comment · 7 years ago
If you would like to request access to the training data she has been gathering / labelling, you may email [email protected] . To her knowledge, hers is the most comprehensive and best-labelled dataset to date in this problem domain.
Comment · 8 years ago
Please understand that I have no problem with genetic engineering in general, and am probably one of the few people on this thread with genetic engineering experience. I have customized a DNA sequence and had my custom version synthesized into a plasmid, which worked as designed. I am a huge proponent of genetic engineering technology when applied to extend human life and augment human capabilities.

I think that an arms race mentality is a dangerous approach to engineering ethics. I would rather that the arms race of the Cold War have been avoided if it were possible, even if it meant one or both sides being willing to lag behind when it comes to ethically dangerous technology.

Do you have a citation for the supposition that Neanderthals are not legally human? I believe that the legal personhood of Neanderthals has not yet been established, and would likely have to go the Supreme Court. If legal personhood was denied to Neanderthals (homo sapiens neanderthalensis), would you say that it should be denied to mentally challenged homo sapiens sapiens as well?

I am Catholic and have no choice but to align with the Vatican. I am just trying to do the right thing no matter whether it's with the help of a national government, a religious authority, or simply individuals who want to do the right thing.

Please don't accuse me of not doing enough. I have invested 10 years of my salary into animal welfare companies and outrighted donated 2 years of my salary to other philanthropic organizations including medical and educational organizations. I'm just trying to do the best I can and there's not much more I can do.

Comment · 8 years ago
Comment · 8 years ago
The Vatican these days is no longer regressive, at least on scientific issues. Here is a letter from the Pope in 2015 urging action on climate change: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/docume...

Here is a video produced by the Vatican along with the letter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXA5_juFgDg

The Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe was invented by a Catholic priest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre

I've also spoken with a retired Bishop who mentioned that in his personal view, it is possible that a multiverse with more than one universe could exist. All in all, Catholic leadership today is impressively open-minded.

Comment · 8 years ago
Patrick, don't you think you should reflect on what you are doing before taking sentient neurons and forcing them to live their entire lives confined inside a machine, with no possibility of escape? How would you enjoy being born into such captivity?

What would you do if you were experiencing an endless state of pain but lacked the language ability to communicate your pain to your owner?

I have written to the Vatican already suggesting that they push to make neural slavery illegal, as it violates the principle of the dignity of sentient life. I hope you will please reflect on what you are doing and stop doing it voluntarily instead of waiting for the laws to change and make what you are doing illegal. Whether legal or not, any form of slavery is immoral.

Comment · 8 years ago
Don't you think this would constitute slavery? Shouldn't this be extremely illegal?
Comment · 8 years ago
Speaking as a vegan: The reason I am vegan is for utilitarian reasons. Neuroscientists agree that there is firm evidence that all animals (NOT PLANTS) are sentient to varying degrees. I believe that in the future it will be possible to quantify exactly how sentient each species is (e.g. a dog is 1/4 of a person or a cow is 1/5 of a person). Furthermore, through technology such as EEG, fMRI, and intravenous monitoring of hormone levels, it will be possible to quantify whether a given species is, on average, happy more than sad. Speaking as a living being, I believe that life is on the whole vastly more positive than negative. The balance only tips for the worse when factors such as slavery and torture come into play, which is why I choose not to consume products produced in factory farms, which are the modern implementation of slavery.
Comment · 8 years ago
In the second paragraph: "In 2017, a reported 11 Titans had gone vegan".

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