This is a difficult conversation because it borders on the religious. Seeing sentience in a being that you can't communicate with takes a leap of faith. I've discussed this topic to death with my vegan partner and ultimately, I do think that attempting to establish the value of one life over another is inherently chauvinistic. I don't have any moral answers, though - I really just know about keeping and breeding fish.
Regarding fish intelligence, it definitely varies by species. Sharks have similar brain-to-body mass ratios to mammals and birds, for instance, and are known to exhibit curiosity and play behaviors. Watch enough diving footage and you'll begin to recognize the ways that they communicate and establish social structures.
Shellfish are actually invertebrates, and some of them - cephalopods, in particular - are incredibly intelligent. Cuttlefish and octopuses fall into the mollusk family, but they've developed their own unique form of intelligence that is both alien and immediately recognizable. How do you measure something like that? To me, this is evidence that our theory of mind is not well developed enough to make these sort of judgment calls.
It is difficult, and you're right, it does border on religious. I respect and appreciate your input and I get why you would come to that conclusion. I myself have not taken that leap but for what might be considered a similarly religious (perhaps ontological?) reasons. Another time, perhaps, it's okay to disagree in good faith and struggle against capitalism together in the meantime.
This is a difficult conversation because it borders on the religious. Seeing sentience in a being that you can't communicate with takes a leap of faith. I've discussed this topic to death with my vegan partner and ultimately, I do think that attempting to establish the value of one life over another is inherently chauvinistic. I don't have any moral answers, though - I really just know about keeping and breeding fish.
Regarding fish intelligence, it definitely varies by species. Sharks have similar brain-to-body mass ratios to mammals and birds, for instance, and are known to exhibit curiosity and play behaviors. Watch enough diving footage and you'll begin to recognize the ways that they communicate and establish social structures.
Shellfish are actually invertebrates, and some of them - cephalopods, in particular - are incredibly intelligent. Cuttlefish and octopuses fall into the mollusk family, but they've developed their own unique form of intelligence that is both alien and immediately recognizable. How do you measure something like that? To me, this is evidence that our theory of mind is not well developed enough to make these sort of judgment calls.
It is difficult, and you're right, it does border on religious. I respect and appreciate your input and I get why you would come to that conclusion. I myself have not taken that leap but for what might be considered a similarly religious (perhaps ontological?) reasons. Another time, perhaps, it's okay to disagree in good faith and struggle against capitalism together in the meantime.