Comment by barry-cotter
2 years ago
The question isn’t if 2 year olds are intelligent it’s if dogs are of comparable intelligence to a human 2 year old. They are.
> As for language, the average dog can learn 165 words, including signals, and the "super dogs" (those in the top 20 percent of dog intelligence) can learn 250 words, Coren says. "The upper limit of dogs' ability to learn language is partly based on a study of a border collie named Rico who showed knowledge of 200 spoken words and demonstrated 'fast-track learning,' which scientists believed to be found only in humans and language learning apes," Coren said.
> Dogs can also count up to four or five, said Coren. And they have a basic understanding of arithmetic and will notice errors in simple computations, such as 1+1=1 or 1+1=3.
> Four studies he examined looked how dogs solve spatial problems by modeling human or other dogs' behavior using a barrier type problem. Through observation, Coren said, dogs can learn the location of valued items (treats), better routes in the environment (the fastest way to a favorite chair), how to operate mechanisms (such as latches and simple machines) and the meaning of words and symbolic concepts (sometimes by simply listening to people speak and watching their actions).
> During play, dogs are capable of deliberately trying to deceive other dogs and people in order to get rewards, said Coren. "And they are nearly as successful in deceiving humans as humans are in deceiving dogs."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025241.h...
I have been replying to OP who literally said:
> A 23 months old human is generally less intelligent than a dog and has a consciousness vastly different from us. If the lives of people (and everyone else) got better from killing such a being, then why not?
So what is your point?
Is today "rationalist edgeloard"-day?
Seems like you can easily relate to 23 month old humans. That's cool. Now try to expand that empathy to other entities of comparable mental faculties and complexity of emotions. Then imagine the horrors we, as a species, casually inflict on them. If you need inspiration, here is a link I found from google: https://thehumaneleague.org/article/factory-farmed-pigs
Now tell me how a painless infanticide (arguably committed for utilitarian good) is even nearly as bad.
In fact, I do acknowledge that many things we do to animals are horrific. But this is just whataboutism.
So you are really telling me that you are ok with killing little kids for "utilitarian good" (whatever that is)?
You still haven't answered my question: do you have any real-life experience with little kids? I am pretty sure you haven't, otherwise you wouldn't spew such obvious bullshit.
Now let's remember what you said in your original post:
> Why not take infanticide seriously? A 23 months old human is generally less intelligent than a dog and has a consciousness vastly different from us.
Honestly, that's one of the most fucked up things I have ever read on HN. Congratulations!
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