tree frog said:

Every cell in my body is different than ten years ago.  I'm not the same person, I just have the memories and criminal record (karma).

The Ship of Theseus and all of that.

Though I do see your point, like as far as this organism is concerned. The entirety of its continuance is more important than any individual cell.

An individual person can feel the same way about their species, their culture, their nation. I wish more of us felt that way about the planet we live on and share.

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tree frog said:

That's the question I was begging...

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Well shit, nothing more to do then

Churpee Choozle said:

Ah Pig, please no. I have no 'my own country' and I don't give a crap about borders, nations, or if something happened in a 100 km radius or not.

You don't have to agree, sure. And I get where that Cartesian notion of insects as automatons comes from. Everything that doesn't look at you with two big eyes is kinda 'out' anyway, that's how we and our empathy evolved.

But why select a subgroup? Millions were gassed, because that's what you get when people with a strictly hierarchic view on life get power. Vermin needs to be destroyed, the brave inhabitants of the Fatherland need more space.

It means very little to me if they were Dutchies, Germans, Sinti, Russians or just social miscreants like me and you. That was my whole point. As soon as you go with exterminating unwanted whatevers, you enter that slippery slope.

The example you provide: so if something cannot draw from imagination, or think 'cohesive' thoughts, it's somehow less deserving of moral consideration?
The exact point where the nazi's started. Neurodiverse kids. Most people in their time agreed they were just social ballast anyway, why not disappear them.
You get a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail.

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