Sentientism

Sentientism‏‎ is a philosophical perspective that grants moral consideration to all sentient beings. The term was first coined by philosopher John Rodman in 1977, and has since been developed by various thinkers in the fields of ethics, philosophy, and animal rights. Sentientism holds that the capacity to have conscious experiences, particularly the ability to feel pleasure or pain, is the determining factor for moral consideration.

Philosophy

Sentientism is rooted in the philosophical tradition of utilitarianism, which argues that the moral worth of an action is determined by its contribution to overall happiness or pleasure. However, sentientism extends this principle to all beings capable of experiencing pleasure or pain, not just humans. This includes a wide range of non-human animals and potentially even artificial intelligences.

Criticisms

Despite its ethical appeal, sentientism has been criticized on several fronts. Some argue that it is overly broad, granting moral consideration to beings that lack the cognitive capacities to reciprocate or appreciate such consideration. Others contend that sentientism is too narrow, excluding beings that lack sentience but may still have moral worth, such as plants or ecosystems.

Relation to Other Philosophies

Sentientism shares similarities with other ethical perspectives such as animal rights, veganism, and effective altruism. Like these philosophies, sentientism emphasizes the moral importance of reducing suffering and promoting well-being. However, sentientism is distinct in its focus on sentience as the key criterion for moral consideration.

See Also

• Animal rights
• Veganism
• Effective altruism
• Utilitarianism