Sentience

[theapportioner]

Helm: "Human", I think is a definition based dialectically to the observation of differences between men and animals. This is to say, that 'human' is the sum of characteristics that animals lack, and men possess. The most prominent of those characteristics I believe it's safe to say, is the ability to reason on an abstract level.

Aye. Another defining feature of humanity is its ability to create and partake in culture, technology, social structure, values etc. Though rooted in our higher intelligence and other helpful qualities, it is what we do with our intelligence that makes us "human".

People often mix up a species-based distinction of humanity with a societal-based one and an individual-based one. They need not be the same. Blindly interchanging these distinctions is a source of error in the abortion debate, for instance.

Preechr: The universe values each particle the same, because all of those particles belong to it and it wouldn't care to lose ANY of them.

This is a nonsensical statement.

Preechr: Mankind values each man the same for the same reason, and each subset contained therein follows the same rule, all the way down to the part where you value your own individual subset of particles more than any other person's.

This is just ridiculous.