this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2023
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477
Scientists Have Reported a Breakthrough In Understanding Whale Language (www.vice.com)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
114 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Scientists Have Reported a Breakthrough In Understanding Whale Language::Researchers have identified new elements of whale vocalizations that they propose are analogous to human speech, including vowels and pitch.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (4 children)

If complete mutually intelligible communication of complex ideas with another species is undeniably proven, that will be a massive boon for veganism(although of course not all animals are equal), and a legal quagmire. What do you do if they are suffering in ways that we can fix due to their environment? Like humans were, and then we changed our environment. Do you give whales weapons so they can defend themselves from orcas? Do you shoot whale pochers? Do you shoot orcas attacking whales? Do you farm krill for them to eat? Do you drastically alter the ocean surface to be more comfortable for whales?

After all, most people recognize it as good to alter a person's natural state(hunting and gathering from caves) for the better, so would that not be the same for animals that are considered essentially people or near-people?

[–] [email protected] 34 points 9 months ago

We don't even treat other humans on earth with dignity and respect and you think anything will change for whales as drastically as you propose? Maybe I'm mega jaded but I see this having little impact.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Last time I checked you don't eat abstract linguistic concepts.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Abstract linguistic concepts ensure you can eat.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Nobody said anything about complex ideas. Maybe they just said. "food here"

Speaking to animals would be cool but I doubt they'd have much to share other than basic instincts.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Nobody said anything about complex ideas.

Well actually having a language allows way more complex ideas than ever communicated with an animal before

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What is this idea about not eating non-humans I communicate with. I speak with my plants too and they entertain complex thought. Do I have to stop eating them? There is nothing out there that isn't a person. Continue eating as you see fit and be kind to the living.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Speaking to something doesn't mean it understands and reacts to it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Speaking is an act of changing reality, always. If you want to go as far as calling this 'speaking to' is up to you.