Kant, humanity and sex robots: moral challenges in the era of artificial intelligence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/sk.v22i2.93668Keywords:
Kant, sexual robots, humanity, autonomy, end in itself, indirect duty.Abstract
This essay delves into the moral nexus between rational beings and sexual automatons from a Kantian perspective, scrutinizing the essence of humanity and freedom as the capacity to resist immediate impulses. The humanity formula transcends mere restrictive capabilities, encompassing proactive responsibility towards others' well-being. The absolute value of rational beings, as ends in themselves, lies in their capacity for autonomous volition. This autonomy, as the fount of dignity, stands in stark contrast to the nature of sexual robots that emulate human behaviors. In this regard, two scenarios are contemplated: the first envisages robots with self-awareness akin to humans; the second, robots lacking self-consciousness yet mimicking intimate human interactions. In the latter scenario, it is posited that, notwithstanding differences in rationality, robots, akin to animals, may possess an analogous relation to humanity, intimating the existence of indirect duties towards them. Conclusively, 14 topics are enumerated to reflect on these indirect duties.
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