The Importance of Insect Suffering

I wonder about the implications of believing animals and insects to be agents with subjective experiences. Would that not imply some form of moral culpability for animals? If animals inflict untold amounts of suffering on each other and we consider them to be beings capable of experiencing subjective experiences, would the most logical path not somehow be to eliminate all animals and insects?

Oh come one. We'll sooner have AIs that will wonder if humans can truly suffer, than we will be able to determine if insects suffer.

Strongly in favour of encouraging this lunacy.<p>Let&#x27;s all autoeuthenise and let the other animals get on with the stuff we stopped doing because it was morally wrong.

I have an abundance of empathy, and agree that suffering should be minimized. I do my best to minimize the suffering of those around me.<p>I still kill insects sometimes, but do my best to ensure that it is as painless and swift as possible.<p>Empathy is also a driving force for me in my interactions with others. I have a deep desire to end societal problems that cause suffering, and I deeply oppose war.

I can&#x27;t help but feel that without also adding a right to life for insects or similar this swiftly leads to the conclusion that we should pave over the rainforests to minimize long-term suffering.

Let us not get ourselves caught up in binary views. Insects may suffer, even plants may suffer, but it&#x27;s not on the same level as the suffering of higher life forms. Let&#x27;s concentrate on reducing suffering there first. The rest is more of an academic affair at this point or our understanding.

Millions of human beings are dying of starvation, but no let&#x27;s fret about the insects we might step on while we walk across the lawn.