DestinysAngels 12 Posted July 2, 2012 "Who says they do not feel? Chequita, Capuchin monkey baby, hugs her mother Cassie, as she undergoes an operation on her hand, at Melbourne Zoo, Australia (April 2010)" -------------------------------------- The Definition of "Sentience": The ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think ("reason") from the ability to feel ("sentience"). In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences (described by some thinkers as "qualia"). For Eastern philosophy, sentience is a metaphysical quality of all things that requires respect and care. The concept is central to the philosophy of animal rights, because sentience is necessary for the ability to suffer, which entails certain rights. In science fiction, non-human characters described as "sentient" typically have similar abilities, qualities and rights as human beings! [ATTACH=CONFIG]3535[/ATTACH] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites