Practical Philosophy, Thursday

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"We seem to have found ourselves in something of a peaceful patch," Ender said, sitting down on his blanket by the pond. "But for the speech of our closest pets."

He looked at his students. "I can't speak for other species, but humans have a habit of ignoring or misinterpreting the sentience of the non-human," he said. "Even though many studies show that even the animals we've grown up with are likely smarter than we think."

He tilted his head.

"What do you think?" he asked. "Do you have pets? Are they talking? Did it surprise you? If you don't have pets, why not? How do you see animals?"

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[endsthegame]

With a best friend.

Listen to the Lecture

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Or just have a sandwich. Or go in the pond.

Talk.

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About animals, sentience, or something else.

Talk to the Teacher

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He's there.

OOC

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So tired.

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[legionqueen]

Juillenne Milone (and Camden)

Re: Talk.

[legionqueen]

"Cam's not a pet," Juillenne opened with.

"And we've always been connected," Camden offered.

"This is just a little more- direct, I suppose. Than our usual mode of communication."

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[in_sidon_we_trust]

Prince Sidon

Re: Talk.

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"I have no pets," Sidon offered with a wide grin, "--I'm afraid, with a whole kingdom to look after one day, I would feel as though the little friend wouldn't get nearly as much attention as they would deserve!--but I do rather enjoy the company of animals and I find it absolutely delightful that they should have the opportunity to gain the opportunity of speech as we tend to know it! I'm very excited, actually, to check in on the animals at the shelter, where I work, and see what stories they might have! They're always ever so good about listening to mine; it'll be nice that they should have a turn finally!"

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[unusual_sith]

Lana Beniko

Re: Talk.

[unusual_sith]

"My parents had pets," Lana said. "I wouldn't know what to do with one."

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[always_someone]

Norman Babcock

Re: Talk.

[always_someone]

Norman shrugged a little bit.

"Animals make themselves understood even without speaking human language," he noted. "I mean... they're way more straightforward than most humans are. I appreciate that about them."

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[goldfishontherocks]

Keyleth

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Telepathy?" Ender guessed.

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"What do you expect to hear from them?" Ender asked, tilting his head. "Have you thought about it before?"

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Why not?" Ender asked.

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Are they?" Ender said. "Or is the straightforward the only part of their communication we can read?"

Re: Talk.

[legionqueen]

"Tele-what?" Juillenne frowned, confused. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're referring to."

Re: Talk.

[always_someone]

Norman hiked a shoulder up a little.

"I mean, some animals don't want you to know everything," he replied. "Cats and birds are really good at hiding when they're sick, that sort of thing. But if they want us to know what they're saying, if we're willing to pay attention, they make themselves understood. That doesn't mean we'll be able to walk into a conversation between two squirrels and know that they're talking about their mother-in-law's acorn salad recipe or anything... but I think it really is more about our willingness to listen than it is about their ability to communicate."

Re: Talk.

[unusual_sith]

"A pet is a commitment," Lana said. "Most of them live longer than I'll be here. I could end up back on Dromund Kaas, or on Korriban, or on Hoth - there's no telling. Some environments would kill an animal. And if I'm in a military post, it won't be safe."

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Very practical," Ender said lightly. "Though I'd say that's an answer to the question of 'why don't you have a pet', not 'why do you think you wouldn't know what to do with one'."

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"How much do you think you can understand a creature that doesn't speak your language?" Ender said. "Is it enough to just... hear what they want of you?"

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Speaking from one mind to another," Ender clarified.

Re: Talk.

[always_someone]

"I mean... you're always going to miss something," Norman noted. "The same goes with other human beings who don't speak the same language, you know? Just because there are ways of communicating what it is they want doesn't mean they can get across every single thing there is to say. But that doesn't make it less important to try."

He drummed his fingers against his knee as he mulled it over.

"I don't think it's possible for everyone to understand everything, even if they really want to. Maybe with work, they can come close. But even other people who do speak the same language are... complex. Just because two people are talking back and forth in English doesn't mean they can necessarily make themselves understood. I think maybe it's all kind of like different levels of that, but with different limits, different tools to work with? And then we have to figure out what to do with what we're being told, from there."

Re: Talk.

[unusual_sith]

Lana frowned. "But they're the same thing. I wouldn't know what to do with a pet in those circumstances, so that's why I don't have one."

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"But you're not in those circumstances," Ender noted. "If someone came to you and offered to lend you a pet, and take it back, no questions asked, when you graduated-- what would you do?"

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Then they're not so straightforward, are they?" Ender said, tone wry. "Animals are just complicated in a different way than we are."

Re: Talk.

[always_someone]

"Yeah," Norman allowed. "But they..."

He frowned a little bit, trying to find a way to put it.

"They might not tell us everything, but they don't hold back when they want something," he said, instead. "They'll leave things out, but I've never seen an animal just... decide to lie. If they're afraid, they'll react like they're afraid. If they're angry or they feel threatened, they don't hold that back. And the reasons they have for those reactions are..." He frowned a little. Not simpler, necessarily. That wasn't the word he was looking for. "... Sensible. They can be tricked into those reactions, sure, like those videos of cats who spook when they see a cucumber because they think it's a snake, but it isn't like they're overreacting to the snake that they see, you know?"

He pulled in a breath.

"I mean..."

And he sighed.

"I don't know. People will find a lot of weird reasons to do or say a lot of things, especially to other people, I guess."

Re: Talk.

[unusual_sith]

"I suppose that would depend upon the person and the pet," Lana said. "I wouldn't mind caring for something that would be fine going back to a good home after, but that's a lot of ifs."