Category: English

All the arguments are used to recognize sentience are based on some kind of “similarity” or “closeness” with oneself: same aspect, same behavior, genetic / evolutionary similarity or closeness, same utility, same necessity. All are “alike”. This is how we recognize, in fact, sentience in other beings. Why do we do it like this? The answer is in the “Street lamp principle”. We do so because we can do so. If we have lost the keys in the street, at night, first we look for them where there is light, because where there is light, we can see. This does not mean that underneath the streetlight is the most likely place where the keys are. Instead, under the streetlight it is the most likely place where we can find the keys.