I don't think it is. What is silly is relying on intuition and woo. That is the exact opposite of rational.

It is very convenient for us to say that only things we can recognize as being like us deserve to be called sentient, because that means we do not have to consider them anything more than a tool. Historically human beings have applied this to animals and even other human beings. It is neither a scientifically nor ethically justifiable philosophy.