In response to Raj. - full post here
Related to the problem of the infinite regress is the possibility of transhumanism and of the existence other intelligent life forms.
If we place value on something that falls into the infinite regress, as you mentioned, our system of ethics leaves itself open to the problem of devaluing a life purely on the basis of the existence of a more aware life form.
Transhumanism - the augmentation of humans through technology and different sciences - brings the possibility of humans who will have higher order thinking skills that would be better than our own and would therefore supersede our moral rights. So, if we value C+1, a being with C+2 could make C+2 the cut-off line for value.
The notion of transhumanism in general is useful in ethics because it places humans in a place that is similar to the marginal cases; human capacities will be marginal compared to transhumans. Even if transhumanism weren't an eventual reality, if the results from even a thought experiment including transhumanism or intelligent aliens do not ring well with us, then it is probably something that we need to seriously consider.
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