obsidian/🛡️ Debate/Arguments/Vegan/Ostroveganism.md

Delicious Bivalve Argument

Definiendum	Definiens
B	something (x) counts as a brain
P	something (x) is a complex network of interconnected neurons
Q	something (x) integrates neuronal pathways from multiple sensory organs
R	something (x) presents with distinct functional regions
S	something (x) presents with nuclei with white matter tracts that facilitate inter-regional communication
N	the corresponding brainless biological system into which the cerebral ganglia are integrated (x) is not likely to be sentient
c	cerebral ganglia

P1) Something counts as a brain if, and only if, something is a complex network of interconnected neurons, integrates neuronal pathways from multiple sensory organs, and presents with distinct functional regions or nuclei with white matter tracts that facilitate inter-regional communication.
(∀x(Bx↔Px∧Qx∧(Rx∨Sx)))
P2) Cerebral ganglia meet criteria one and three, but not criteria two and four.
(Pc∧¬Qc∧Rc∧¬Sc)
P3) If cerebral ganglia do not count as brains, then the corresponding brainless biological system into which the cerebral ganglia are integrated is not likely to be sentient.
(¬Bc→∀x(¬Nx))
C) Therefore, bivalves are not likely to be sentient.
(∴¬Nb)

Proof Tree

---

Argument for Bivalve Consumption

Definiendum	Definiens
V	it is vegan to consume (x) lifeform
S	(x) lifeform does have sentience
b	bivalves

P1) If it is not vegan to consume a lifeform, then the lifeform does have sentience.
(∀x(¬Vx→Sx)
P2) Bivalves do not have sentience.
(¬Sb)
C) Therefore, it is vegan to consume bivalves.
(∴Vb)

Proof Tree

---

Ecological Harm Tho

Variable	Definition
F	the food is OK to eat
H	the food does cause ecological harm
s	soy

P1) If the food is OK to eat, then the food does not cause ecological harm.
(∀x(Fx→¬Hx))
P2) Soy does cause ecological harm.
(Hs)
C) Therefore, soy is not OK to eat.
(∴¬Fs)

Proof Tree

---

!

---

Ganglia Tho Hypothetical

For example, say we had a braindead body on life support, and some people (like loved ones) who would experience emotional well-being if you took them off life support. Would you say "screw their emotions, we should apply the precautionary principle to that body's cerebral ganglia". I personally wouldn't. I'd take the wishes of those people to supersede keeping the ganglia alive. Likewise, I can't think of a good reason to deny people well-being from eating oysters.

Links

Biomass Distribution

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1711842115

Tumour Case Report

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28042664/

Mollusc Sentience

📂 Media/PDFs/sentience-in-cephalopod-molluscs-and-decapod-crustaceans-final-report-november-2021.pdf

---

Hashtags

#vegan #philosophy #sentience #bivalves