WHERE DO ROBOTS FIT IN???

INTRODUCTION Topic: Robots Current definition: automaton: a mechanism that can move automatically (worldnetweb.princeton.edu) Today’s presentation will address questions including: -Will robots become more and more like human beings, and become life forms? -Does the invention of robots challenge the traditional view of God and change religion? -Should robots have rights, duties, and certain forms of treatment?

EFFECTS OF ROBOTS ON SOCIETY Whether or not robots are alive, they can affect society… -Health Care -Agriculture -Other industries (e.g iRobot for military carrying use) (cf O’Connor Fred, 2007) Should man pursue the creation of robots? -Convenience and economy -“’Robots are getting closer to people. We need to see how robots and people interact.’” (Rod Brooks, qtd. In O’Connor Fred, 2007)

TREATMENT OF ROBOTS Treatment of robots largely depends on whether or not they are considered to be live, sentient beings. Some people are raising issues of “abuse” (cf Hanlon Mike, 2007)

ROBOT’S RIGHTS? Like treatment of robots, whether or not robot’s have “rights” would be determined by whether or not they are truly alive. If alive, they have rights If not alive, they do not have rights. Current status: -Present law: robots inanimate objects, no rights or duties (cf. Freitas, Robert A, retrieved 2010) -A possibility for the next years according to UK study (cf. BBC News, 2006)

LIFE Life: -The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism. -A living being, especially a person -The physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute existence The soul (life-giving principle): the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life (worldnetweb.princeton.edu)

WHERE DOES GOD FIT IN? Creator, giver of life and soul. How do robots affect the understanding of God? -Compatibility if robots are inanimate -Conflict, if man thinks he can create a soul (a power previously attributed only to God. How will robots affect spirituality and religion? -Religions oriented toward sciences already exist -Probably won’t alter most religions or religious beliefs

IS SOCIETY READY Another sentient life like ours? -Animals – already another sentient life form -Scientific possibility of extraterrestrial life already exists -Robots: a man-made possibility Life or the resemblance of life? -Reality of a soul -A question of freedom vs. control

ARISTOTLE Living things: animate beings able to move themselves because they have a soul. (cf PhilosophyPages, retrieved 2010) Soul: the form of the living thing (its actuality, that in virtue of which it is the kind of living thing that it is). (cf. Cohen Marc, 2004)

THALES Life: -The power to act -The power to move itself Cf. Austin, David F., 2000 Soul: related to life -Something endowed with power of motion -Cause of motion

DESCARTES: dualism Existence: “I think, therefore I am.” Power of the mind. Mind: -Ideas are a point of departure, as perceived by the intellect -Faculty of knowing Cf. Garret Jan, 2008 Body -Perceived by senses -Completely distinct from mind (mind can separate itself from body) -Examines nature of body without being convinced it really exists Soul: -Rational soul, distinct from body -Source of intellect

CONCLUSION Robots will have a presence in society and impact daily life. Based on the traditional understanding of life from the perspective of the soul, and as seen in both Descartes and Aristotle, robots are not animate, living objects, but inanimate machines. Only the definition of life given by Thales would leave any room for robots to be seen as living beings. If robots are not living beings, there are no ethical guidelines in terms of treatment, abuse, rights and duties. Nevertheless, some people do believe robots should be treated the same way as human beings, and are in support of giving them rights, etc. The invention of robots does not undermine the power of God, as humans are incapable of providing a soul and freedom.

REFERENCES: Austin, David F. The Meaning of Life Retrieved March 5, 2010 from BBC News. Robots Could Demand Legal Rights. Dec. 21, Retrieved March 5, 2010 from Cohen, Marc. Aristotle on the Soul Retrieved March 5, 2010 from Freitas, Robert A. The Legal Rights of Robots. Retrieved March 5, 2010 from Garret, Dr. Jan. Argument Analysis Assignment for Phil 303. January 15, Retrieved 2010 from Hanlon, Mike. The Inhumane Treatment of Robots. April 8, Retrieved March 5, 2010 from O’Connor, Fred. Robots will Become Part of Daily Life. October 17, Retrieved March 5, 2010 from dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR htmlhttp:// dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR html PhilosophyPages. Aristotle: Forms and Souls. Retrieved March 5, 2010 from