Isaac Asimov first postulated the "three laws of robotics" in attempting to lay out the rights, or rules, of robots. Storylines in Star Trek: The Next Generation attempts this further with our friendly sentient android Data (see episode The Measure of a Man). We're now crossing into considering robotic rights as well.
This week, experts in South Korea said they were drawing up an ethical code to prevent humans abusing robots, and vice versa. And, a group of leading roboticists called the European Robotics Network (Euron) has even started lobbying governments for legislation.
One set of considerations caught my eye: "If robots can feel pain, should they be granted certain rights? If robots develop emotions, as some experts think they will, should they be allowed to marry humans? Should they be allowed to own property?"
I've wondered, now that we're considering rights for things we've considered not "alive", how that will influence our thoughts on other things some may consider not "alive". Such as embryos. It's been said that, depending on the type of abortion, that the embryo has been shown to feel pain. If robots are given rights based on pain, how about embryos?
I doubt most ethicists will carry robotic ethical theory over to a more human realm. But here's hoping that with this new direction of thinking that more sense will be shown towards our own species.
-Colonel Steve
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