So emotions such as love, compassion and empathy should have no bearing?
Only nutrition and the utility principle?
On the first thread about this cat, he had this to say.
I think it takes a human brain to interpret any stimulus as pain. What animals do is react, as their pre-programming tells them to.
Animals are controlled by a very sophisticated CPU capable of AI. And they NEED to respond to nervous system stimuli to survive. It does not mean they feel pain. They merely mimic what we interpret as a response to pain.
Heck, I can program a robot to act hurt or scream when pressure is applied to the tops of its toes. It does not mean it feels pain.
He is a very sick individual.
>>Only nutrition and the utility principle?<<
No. They also make excellent companions because of all the similarities - especially dogs, being communal animals.
But it is like movies. A good chick flick can allow me to suspend disbelief to the point that I cry. I see my dog in the same way. He is not the real thing, but he seems that way sometimes. I allow myself to feel that way, knowing that it is like the chick flick. It is not real.