(no subject)
I have ended up having a moderately inebriated night. Went to a frisbee social and suceeded in acquiring a nickname with an innuendo without even trying, except by being me. It is Member, and if you need an explanation you are too innocent and let me meet you...personally, later.
My diary thing worked btw, i discovered the excitement of my life and how little work i do, so all is good. I've bought a new watch as the other broke, but the new one still has an alarm. You see the thrills and spills.
Saying that, there was a serious point I thought the other day. The last Animals practical we tortured locusts a bit and the only relevance it seemed to have to the course was animal welfare, which got me wondering whether it mattered if we cause locusts suffering. I mean, we're only an undergraduate course and yet we're allowed to do it. So, if it's ok for locusts, where do we stop? And why do we have a problem with suffering anyway? Guilt from it is surely due to a psychological relation with ourselves and corresponding empathy. Either that or an idea of having to answer for our actions act some later point. But if we live purely selfishly, even within species, then that pain means nothing and should mean nothing. A locust's torture has no direct impact upon my life; in fact it is important it doesn't so I am able to eat that locust if the need arises. However, as I don't need to eat that locust and I can visibly see unnecessary suffering, I feel uncomfortable. I either understand suffering or I don't, I'm not entirely sure whether I can do both simultaneously. This may be a reason I have difficulties with scientific ethics! It's all good I'm sure. It always is after all...
Btw, anyone reading this is invited to a Mexican-type meal/party thing tomorrow evening. Em is holding it and it will be WICKED!
My diary thing worked btw, i discovered the excitement of my life and how little work i do, so all is good. I've bought a new watch as the other broke, but the new one still has an alarm. You see the thrills and spills.
Saying that, there was a serious point I thought the other day. The last Animals practical we tortured locusts a bit and the only relevance it seemed to have to the course was animal welfare, which got me wondering whether it mattered if we cause locusts suffering. I mean, we're only an undergraduate course and yet we're allowed to do it. So, if it's ok for locusts, where do we stop? And why do we have a problem with suffering anyway? Guilt from it is surely due to a psychological relation with ourselves and corresponding empathy. Either that or an idea of having to answer for our actions act some later point. But if we live purely selfishly, even within species, then that pain means nothing and should mean nothing. A locust's torture has no direct impact upon my life; in fact it is important it doesn't so I am able to eat that locust if the need arises. However, as I don't need to eat that locust and I can visibly see unnecessary suffering, I feel uncomfortable. I either understand suffering or I don't, I'm not entirely sure whether I can do both simultaneously. This may be a reason I have difficulties with scientific ethics! It's all good I'm sure. It always is after all...
Btw, anyone reading this is invited to a Mexican-type meal/party thing tomorrow evening. Em is holding it and it will be WICKED!