Science Can Neither Explain Nor Deny the Awesomeness of This Sledding Crow

Re:Science Can Neither Explain Nor Deny the Awesomeness of T... by VMG on Monday January 16, 2012 @04:34AM (#3470037)

> Beause the person is of the same species as me? That's just an artificial term that describes the ability to interbreed.

The term also describes the biological similarity between the organisms, in this case, similar neural cortices that are vastly different from other animals.

A crow might be sentient, but you will never find it commenting on hacker news.

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Re:Science Can Neither Explain Nor Deny the Awesomeness of T... by jaekwon on Monday January 16, 2012 @04:41AM (#3470057)

Biological similarity does not imply similarity of understanding. My understanding is also shaped by environment and knowledge as much as my genes.

You and I are similar genetically, but I cannot make any statement about your understanding of any activity (like sledding) as compared to mine, because we (or at least I) do not know how to compare "understanding" between two beings.

The crow's neural circuitry is different from yours or mine, but the "same" software can run in many different architectures.

Never say never :)

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Re:Science Can Neither Explain Nor Deny the Awesomeness of T... by VMG on Monday January 16, 2012 @04:49AM (#3470075)

Neurological similarity is necessary for any kind of meaningful understanding, but it isn't sufficient, so I basically agree.

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