Robots, Robots, Robots - Part 2

Thinking about sentient robots gave rise to a number of other related ideas.  Let me show you.

Questions:   
 1)  What rights should a sentient, self aware robot have?   
 2)  What laws should apply to intelligent robots?  
 3) Should robots be allowed to marry humans?  
 4) Should robots be allowed to marry each other?    

OK, I know these questions sound ridiculous, but let’s explore each of these questions, just for the sake of an intellectual argument.  You might be surprised where this takes me.

Question 1)  What rights should a sentient, self-aware robot have?

Let’s assume any self-aware being should have rights.  How about dogs and cats?  Any pet owner would certainly say his pets are conscious, sentient beings.   Can we kill them outright?   If you are shocked at this idea, you are not alone.   How about cows, pigs and chickens?   This is dangerous territory which would turn our society into vegetarians. PETA  (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) PETA Link  would agree, stating unequivocally that we should not kill animals for food, and even Kosher Jews have their own laws about killing animals without making them suffer. 

Sentient Robots, particularly ones who can talk and tell you how they are feeling will be a cut above cats and dogs, cows and chickens.   I would have a hard time turning off a sentient robot who pleads for me not to turn it off.   Can you imagine the discussion you would have with such a machine?  One could argue that you and I are both biological machines.  Think about it.  We might be little different than a truly intelligent, thinking, speaking, feeling robot.    

Question 2)   What laws should apply to robots?

Let’s assume all our laws apply and see where that leads us.  Robots should not kill humans or other robots.  Isaac Asimov created the three laws of robotics, (Three Laws of Robotics )the first of which stated robots should do no harm to a human and no harm to itself unless it was forced to in the protection of a human life.  This is not encoded into our Western laws today, but it seems like a good place to start should robots ever become sentient.  And speaking of that, it occurs to me that the robots may establish their own set of laws, particularly if they are smarter than us.  Wow.  Now we are in for real trouble.

Question 3)  Should robots be allowed to marry humans?

I suspect there will be humans, so enamored with their sexy sentient robot that the humans will request the right to marry it!   This will, of course, have our legislators scratching their proverbial collective heads.  Some of them may be having affairs with a robot.  

 In the movie, AI, there is a sentient robot character named, “Gigolo Joe”, played by actor Jude Law, who services lonely women.  But was Gigolo Joe just an elaborate vibrator?    You might be inclined to think so, but consider a truly evolved robot that has feelings and is highly intelligent.  I suspect if it could be emotionally hurt might be a significant test.  But how would you really know?   I believe a learning, self-programming machine can exceed its initial code, very much like a human grows into adulthood.  You would not be able to predict the behavior of such a robot person.  Wow, I just used the ‘P’ word.  Can a robot be a “Person”?

Question 4)  Should sentient robots be allowed to marry each other?

This begs the question why we have marriage in the first place.  The Catholic church states the institution of marriage is for one man and one woman.  Why?   It occurs to me they come to this conclusion for the protection of any children that might result from the union.  This would explain why the church is against gay marriages.  But do they permit divorce between married partners when one of them is sterile and cannot conceive?   I wonder.

What do YOU think?   Leave a comment below!!!!!


 R. Allan Worrell
Author:   Father John's Gift
Contact:  alw314@yahoo.com